November 28, 2025

by Mark Tiler Richmond, Politics & Law Reporter and Paul B. Macro, Business & Economics Reporter

The simmering debate over new data centers in Bricklyn heated up this week when Bob Senbrick, a senior member of the Bricklyn Federal Council, announced that at the December 15th Council meeting he will introduce a resolution calling for a two-year moratorium on the construction of any new data centers within the Realm of Bricklyn.

Senbrick’s resolution cites concerns about “highly energy-intensive facilities capable of placing substantial and sustained demands on electric transmission and distribution systems,” and urges the Realm to conduct a comprehensive study before permitting new facilities.

“Why a Two-Year Pause?” — Councilor Senbrick Responds

Reached in his office, Senbrick explained his reasoning: “Data centers are arriving much faster than our transmission upgrades, our water resource planning, and our municipal regulations. A two-year pause will give us the time we need to do this right, with sound planning.”

When asked whether the resolution was anti-technology, Senbrick replied: “I’m not anti-technology, and I’m not against innovation. What’s more, the resolution does not seek to block the use of artificial intelligence. What the resolution does aim to do is ensure that our digital infrastructure remain strong, sustainable, and powered responsibly. If we don’t set clear standards now — on energy consumption, cooling methods, noise, and sensible siting of these huge data centers — we risk long-term problems that can’t easily be undone.

“We won’t be the first community to adopt a moratorium on the permitting of data centers,” Senbrick added, noting that “it’s a step that several U.S. cities and counties have taken, including St. Charles, Missouri, LaGrange, Georgia, and Johnson County, Iowa, among others.”

Bricklyn Business Community Raises Red Flags

The Bricklyn Eagle spoke with Tom Brickorti, Director of the Bricklyn Chamber of Commerce, who expressed concern over the proposed moratorium.

“We appreciate Bob Senbrick’s long-time role on the Federal Council, but the message he’ll be sending to the business community with this moratorium will have a chilling impact on economic growth and on our reputation as a place where businesses can thrive.” 

Brickorti added that “businesses want predictability, not uncertainty — and uncertainty is exactly what adoption of this resolution will create.”

While Brickorti acknowledged that data centers do bring “legitimate infrastructure questions,” he emphasized that “those concerns can be handled through our existing zoning provisions and utility regulation procedures.” What’s more, Brickorti noted, “a new data center will likely generate as many as 90 permanent jobs, not to mention many more to construct the facility.”

Dunk Them Donuts Reinforces Chamber of Commerce Warnings

David Tiler Broffman, CEO of Dunk Them Donuts, Bricklyn’s largest private employer, added his voice to those opposing the data center moratorium:

“This moratorium could seriously undermine expansion plans our company has been actively considering. Without state-of-the-art data infrastructure, Dunk Them Donuts and other Bricklyn businesses will be operating at a significant competitive disadvantage. “

Broffman continued: “As everyone knows, Dunk Them Donuts has deep roots in Bricklyn. But — and I hate to say this — if we can’t operate efficiently here, we may be forced to grow our business in another Inland realm. I hope policymakers understand what’s at stake.”

Environmental Leader Backs Proposal

The Bricklyn Eagle also spoke with Jenny Brickdeur, Director of the Bricklyn Environmental Alliance (BEA), who offered strong support for Senbrick’s resolution. She told us that “BEA’s more than 300 members — who include many small business owners — have deep concerns about the possible construction of data centers in Bricklyn.”

“Data centers are are not harmless little computer buildings,” Brickdeur said, noting that “they generate massive energy needs out-of-scale with anything we’ve previously dealt with in Bricklyn.

“Through their huge energy consumption,” she added, “they often trigger the need for major new energy supply sources, including nuclear generating plants. The U.S. Department of Energy has said that ‘nuclear has the potential to be a great partner for the data centers of today and tomorrow.’ … ” Does that mean we’ll also need to build a nuclear power plant in Bricklyn? Right now, we simply don’t know.

“In the absence of careful planning,” noted Brickdeur, “a new data center in Bricklyn might well jeopardize our realm’s efforts to develop a sustainable energy future.”

Brickdeur continued: “before we allow any of these facilities in Bricklyn, we need to have in place standards to ensure they are as energy efficient as possible, so we don’t end up — though their demands on Bricklyn Power & Light for capacity upgrades — sharply increasing the energy costs passed along to ratepayers, including small businesses and residents.

“In Outland communities,” she noted, “these concerns have been growing.” She shared a recent example from Maryland.

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Asked about the fear raised by several business leaders that the moratorium will stifle economic growth, Brickdeur responded by saying that: “This isn’t about shutting down growth. It’s about making sure that if a data center is built, it doesn’t undermine Bricklyn’s commitment to a sustainable energy future, one of the real keys to having a strong economy.”

Next Up: 

Councilor Bob Senbrick plans to introduce Resolution No. 25-73, which calls for a two-year moratorium on the construction of any new data center in Bricklyn, at the Federal Council’s December 15th meeting. Observers expect the meeting to kick off a spirited debate. ✥

The Bricklyn Eagle has published the full text of proposed Resolution No. 25-73, as provided by the Clerk’s Office of the Realm.

See our regularly updated listing of all Bricklyn Eagle articles dealing with artificial intelligence or data centers.

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We welcome Letters to the Editor. Please email to: bricklynvt@gmail.com

To the Editor: While I appreciate Councilor Senbrick’s effort to have a moratorium, why can’t we just say NO to the use of artificial intelligence in Bricklyn. We don’t have to be part of this race to the bottom — which is what seems to be happening in the Outland world with a mad dash to incorporate AI into every aspect of life.

Our Federal Council made a smart decision back in 2023 to ban Facebrick from the Realm due to its monopolistic practices and abuse of privacy. We should simply ban the use of AI — we’ve done quite well till recently without it. No need to spend two years searching for a solution. Let’s just call for our Federal Council to end the use of AI in in Bricklyn — and we can all then dunk a Dunk Them Donut to celebrate! — Penelope B. Landers, Bricklyn Jct., VT

Reply from the Editor: Just want to quickly note that The Bricklyn Eagle for several years has used AI to assist with preparing photos and other graphics, and also as a research tool when our reporters and correspondents prepare articles for publication.

We encourage readers to view two articles we’ve published on the use of AI in Bricklyn: “Preliminary Guidance on the Use of Generative AI by Media & Government Agencies” (March 1, 2024) and “Bricklyn Eagle Slammed for Use of AI Generated Images” (May 12, 2025). Of course, The Bricklyn Eagle abides by all requirements set by the Federal Council, and also takes into consideration reader feedback. Thank you.

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To the Editor: As is too often the case in our Realm, delay seems to be the watchword whenever something new and exciting is proposed. We’re already benefitting from AI, and there will be even greater benefits as data centers ramp up in size. Will AI take over the world and end both humanity and LEGO-based peoples like us? From what I’ve read, there’s probably no more than a 10 percent chance of that happening. The odds are in our favor! — Bruce B. Berenson, Bricklyn, VT.

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To the Editor: I thought a two-year moratorium would be too long to be legal. Can you tell me if I’m right? — Sarah B. Drinkwine, Bricklyn, VT.

Reply from the Editor: Good question. We’ll ask Mark Tiler Richmond, who shared the byline on the article you just read, to address your question when he next reports on the moratorium debate.

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To the Editor: What’s this AI really all about? The way I see it, AI’s only going to cost all of us a s**t load of money. The billionaire class is aiming to drug us with AI so we just sit at home all day twiddling our thumbs while watching AI-generated videos. That’s not what I signed up for. — Thomas B. Doomer, South Bricklyn, VT.

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To the Editor: Your article quotes the head of the Chamber of Commerce touting 90 permanent jobs likely to be created by a new data center. He should know that those 90 jobs are peanuts compared to the number of jobs that will likely be lost due to the spread of artificial intelligence and robotics. — Angela Tiler Agard, Bricklyn, VT.

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To the Editor: We definitely need this moratorium. But I do have one suggestion. I looked online, but did not see the Realm of Bricklyn listed as a signatory on the Center for AI Safety’s Statement on AI Risk? Here’s their simple and straightforward statement:
“Mitigating the risk of extinction from AI should be a global priority alongside other societal-scale risks such as pandemics and nuclear war.” Yes, “extinction.” Council member Senbrick, in his Resolution, should also call on the Realm of Bricklyn to endorse this statement and join its group of signatories from around the globe. — Cy Westbrick, Bricklyn Jct., VT.

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