Oct 5 (Reuters) – Conservation group The Wilderness Society on Monday called for a moratorium on artificial intelligence data centers on federal lands, citing concerns over water use, electricity demand, wildlife habitat and public access.
• The call comes as the Trump administration is considering permits for several data center developments on lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, according to federal land records. US President Donald Trump has sought to expand a range of industries on public lands, including mining and oil and gas
• Trump has championed rapid expansion of AI infrastructure and data centers, describing them as critical to economic growth and technological competitiveness. But the industry has increasingly faced local opposition
• The Wilderness Society said public lands should remain focused on recreation, conservation and public access, and called for a pause before large-scale industrial development tied to AI is allowed on federally managed lands
• BLM officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The agency manages about a tenth of America’s land base, primarily in Western states
(Reporting by Nichola Groom; Editing by Jonathan Spicer )
