You Passed a Data Center Moratorium; Now What?! 

August 19, 2026 at 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM

Online (Zoom)

Hundreds of communities across the US have passed or are considering data center moratoriums—temporary pauses on facility construction, approvals, or operation—but once that pause is in place, what happens next? 

This workshop explores policy tools and organizing strategies to build lasting protections against the data center buildout, so moratoriums build momentum rather than cementing the status quo. We will feature case studies from local organizers from different moratorium scenarios, review policy approaches for varying political environments, and highlight strategies to counter industry retaliation.

The workshop is co-hosted by the Data Center Working Group, AI Now Institute, Athena Coalition, Anthropocene Alliance, the Better Data Center Project, Fair Shake Environmental Legal Services, FreePress, Halt the Harm, Kairos Fellows, Local Progress, MediaJustice, North Carolina Environmental Justice Network, and TechTonic Justice.

Who is this session for?

Organizers, community members, and policymakers in localities that have already passed a moratorium, or people who are actively campaigning for moratoriums.

Wondering how to pass a moratorium or a ban?

Check out the recording of our previous training, Bans, Moratoriums, Zoning: How to Stop or Limit Data Center Development, hosted by AI Now and the Data Center Working Group.