Major countries around the world – the United States, Europe, Japan and South Korea – are accelerating restrictions on building data centers. Texas has halted new construction and power‑grid interconnections and issued a large‑scale audit order; the EU Commission is proposing to require disclosure of energy‑ and water‑efficiency grades for data centers, while Japan has expanded its ban on building data centers in 52‑meter high‑risk zones. South Korea’s Victoria Province has strengthened prohibitions on installing data centers near farms and schools to secure renewable capacity.
The Texas government stopped new construction because the power interconnection would exceed the existing maximum capacity of 470 GW, raising concerns about residents’ electricity costs and environmental impacts. The grid operator monitors usage, tax benefits and water consumption, and requires data centers to shoulder their own costs and take measures for protecting the grid and water. This is part of a broader effort to maintain abundant power, land and a green energy system while tightening regulation.
The EU Commission has drafted a proposal that on 21 April will require data centers to disclose efficiency ratings for energy and water use; it also demands disclosure of potential waste heat reuse in water‑scarce areas, and total power usage is not disclosed so as to encourage efficiency improvement through comparison. If member states and the EU do not enact it within two months, regulatory effects will be realized. This ties into the U.S.’s plan to triple data center capacity over seven years to lower the status of big tech and grow AI industry.
The concern for the semiconductor sector is that limiting data‑center construction may hamper the growth of the market. Consulting firms such as Deloitte have noted that higher electricity costs could make it hard to obtain permits. This suggests that a decline in investment profitability could lead to project delays or cancellations, thereby potentially reducing demand for semiconductor components. On the other hand, U.S. and South Korea are already conducting large‑scale audits and permit reviews; semiconductor firms currently do not have large scale so the immediate impact is minimal.