Sen. Josh Hawley on Wednesday called for a federal moratorium on data center construction, becoming the first Senate Republican to endorse a nationwide pause as concerns mount over the industry’s demands on electricity, water and land.

The Missouri Republican included a “MORATORIUM on data centers” in a list of priorities he posted on X for Senate Republicans during the lame-duck session. A Hawley spokesperson told POLITICO that the pause should remain in place until Congress passes a “bill of rights” guaranteeing taxpayers will not face rate increases.

Details of that proposed bill of rights remain unclear. Hawley has previously joined efforts to regulate the industry, leading legislation with Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., earlier this year that would require data centers to secure their own power sources.

Hawley’s position marks a departure from the broader Republican approach, which has largely supported data center development provided residents do not bear the associated energy and water costs. At the state level, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott halted permits for new data centers in September, while Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis imposed stricter regulations on some large-scale artificial intelligence facilities.

The announcement follows midterm election losses for Republicans in which Democrats who campaigned against data centers performed particularly well. Rapid construction to support the AI boom has drawn opposition from Americans concerned about utility bills and the use of local resources.

Before the election, House Republicans passed the Ratepayer Protection Act, aimed at curbing data center energy costs. Senate Democrats blocked the measure, arguing that it lacked sufficient enforcement power. It remains unclear whether Senate Republicans will seek to revive it during the lame-duck session.

Hawley’s call also puts him alongside prominent lawmakers on the left. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., have led legislation to impose a data center moratorium. Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., who is in line to chair the House Energy and Commerce Committee next Congress, also endorsed a pause earlier this year.