Congressman Ben Cline Faces Scrutiny Over Stance on Data Center Regulation Amidst Democratic Opposition
Sixth District Congressman Ben Cline is under scrutiny regarding his position on data center regulation, particularly concerning a proposed data center in Roanoke, Virginia. His Democratic opponent, Beth Macy, has criticized Cline for his perceived inconsistency on the issue. Last year, Cline voted in the House for a measure that included a 10-year moratorium on state and local regulation of data centers, which ultimately failed in the Senate. Despite this, Macy states that Cline is now asserting that data centers are not a congressional responsibility. Macy, however, argues that Congress must intervene to establish national rules for data center construction, citing concerns about transparency, water protection, energy prices, renewable energy, and the containment of artificial intelligence. The proposed data center in Roanoke, near the intersection of I-81 and I-581, has become a focal point of this debate, with Macy advocating for a federal moratorium on new data centers until clear regulations are in p...