Government

International | Washington | Customs | Security | Regulation

Anti-data center push in US threatens project cargo surge

By Autumn Cafiero Giusti

Growing calls to place moratoriums on data center construction across the US present a concern for project cargo specialists who are counting on power generation shipments and other key cargoes required to meet the enormous demands of the mega projects.

An increasing number of lawmakers at the federal, state and municipal levels are taking steps to freeze data center development, which serves as an important cargo source. Opponents say the centers drain power supplies, raise energy costs, and can harm the environment.

Beyond physical construction— the largest US data centers exceed 4 million square feet and can consume as much energy and water as a small town— the development of these facilities is driving large volumes of cargo for infrastructure to support their massive utility needs.

Data center construction is already facing setbacks related to tariffs and equipment scarcity. According to an April 1 report from Bloomberg, nearly half of data centers planned for this year in the US are expected to be delayed or canceled due to a shortage of electrical equipment including transformers, switchgear and batteries to build out the power infrastructure for the centers. The parts come primarily from China, subjecting them to heavy tariffs and taking 24 to 30 months to arrive, up to a year later than data center developers say they need the equipment.

For project logistics providers, delays from moratoriums can create significant setbacks for cargo shipments.“ Long-lead equipment may already be manufactured or in transit, requiring additional storage, rerouting or resequencing of deliveries,” John Lu, global sector head for semiconductor and cloud construction with DHL Global Forwarding Industrial Projects, told the Journal of Commerce.

McKinsey projects global data center spending will reach $ 7 trillion by 2030. Hrach Hovhannisyan / Shutterstock. com

For large AI and data center developments, planning around power, water and sustainability often starts well before projects are publicly announced, Lu said.“ Projects of this scale are complex and typically involve multiple layers of local, state and federal approvals,” he said.

First statewide ban

Legislative efforts to rein in data centers are playing out on all levels of government, some with more support than others. In March, Sen. Bernie Sanders( I-Vt.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez( D-NY) introduced legislation in the Senate and House, respectively, that they said would enact a“ reasonable pause” on the development of new AI data centers in the US“ to ensure the safety of humanity.” If the bill becomes law, it would institute“ an immediate federal moratorium on AI data centers until strong national safeguards are put in place” to ensure AI is safe and effective, does not increase electricity or utility prices, or harm communities or damage the environment.

Although unlikely to advance, the bill’ s introduction follows efforts by more than a dozen states and several cities and counties pushing moratorium proposals.

Maine is set to become the first US state to temporarily outlaw the development of most new data centers after a proposed ban received state House approval April 6. The bill, if passed by the Sentate and signed into law, would freeze construction of any data center consuming at least 20 megawatts of electricity until Nov. 1, 2027.

“ Long-lead equipment may already be manufactured or in transit.”

Lawmakers have proposed data center bans or restrictions in 12 other states: Georgia, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Vermont, and Virginia.

On the municipal level, the city of New Orleans in January passed a one-year moratorium on the construction of data centers, and city council members— who unanimously approved the measure— say the ban will likely become permanent. Cities in North Carolina and Wisconsin also approved temporary bans earlier this year, while Dallas and Denver are considering their own restrictions.

Global spending on data centers is projected to reach $ 7 trillion by 2030, according to consultant McKinsey.

Of the 4,088 data centers now in the US, Virginia and Texas are the top two states for data center construction, with 579 and 411 facilities, respectively, according to industry website Data Center Map.

DHL is in the process of expanding its North American infrastructure to support data center logistics, adding 10 warehouse sites with over 7 million square feet of capacity. The facilities are set go live sometime in 2026, according to DHL.

email: autumn @ autumngiusti. com

46 Journal of Commerce | May 4, 2026 www. joc. com