BlackRock CEO Larry Fink stated that a nationwide moratorium on data center construction in the United States could potentially trigger a recession. He emphasized that infrastructure investments related to artificial intelligence serve as essential catalysts for capital expenditure and the creation of new jobs.
The warning follows growing local resistance to data center projects, driven by concerns regarding environmental impacts and rising utility costs. Currently, restrictions on such construction have been either implemented or are under consideration in 15 states and over 100 individual localities across the country.
New York has already enacted a statewide pause on the development of new hyperscale facilities. Market observers are now monitoring legislative developments in other states, specifically focusing on Oklahoma, where Governor Kevin Stitt and state lawmakers are evaluating their positions on potential moratoriums.
