US Senate Candidate Karishma Manzur Calls for Pause on Hyperscale AI Data Center Construction: U.S. Senate candidate Dr. Karishma Manzur has called for an immediate pause on the construction of hyperscale artificial intelligence data centers in New Hampshire and across the United States, following reports that a major AI data center project is being considered at the site of the former Merrimack Station coal plant in Bow.
According to federal filings, Eversource Energy was asked by Granite Shore Power, the owner of the Bow site, to study the possibility of connecting a proposed data center to the electricity grid. The project could have a capacity of up to 350 megawatts, placing it within the hyperscale category and potentially creating electricity demand comparable to that of hundreds of thousands of homes.
“We need an immediate pause of artificial intelligence technology and the building of hyperscale AI data centers,” Manzur said, arguing that powerful corporations are lobbying Congress in ways that prioritize corporate interests over those of American communities.
Concerns Over Energy Demand and Climate
Manzur linked the expansion of large-scale AI infrastructure to broader concerns about climate change and rising energy consumption.
She cited recent climate-related disasters, including wildfires, heatwaves and glacier collapse, as evidence of the need for stronger environmental protections.
“Yet instead of changing course to protect our planet, more hyper-scale AI data centers are being built for mass surveillance and warfare,” she said.
The proposed Bow facility has become a focal point in the debate over the future of large-scale computing infrastructure in New Hampshire. Manzur also pointed to an earlier data center proposal in Nottingham, New Hampshire, which was withdrawn following opposition from local residents.
Calls for Greater Corporate Accountability
Manzur said communities could face increased costs associated with the development of energy-intensive AI infrastructure while receiving limited benefits.
“Granite Staters will not benefit, but we will pay the costs,” she said. “I am proud to stand with Granite Staters to stop the greed and corruption.”
Her campaign has made corporate accountability and environmental protection central components of its political platform. Manzur has pledged to oppose federal subsidies, tax incentives and permitting shortcuts for hyperscale AI infrastructure when she believes such policies prioritize corporate or military interests over local communities.
The debate comes as the United States experiences rapid growth in AI computing infrastructure, with technology companies and data center developers seeking access to increasingly large amounts of electricity to support advanced computing systems.
The proposed Bow project is expected to add to discussions in New Hampshire over how communities should balance economic development and technological investment with electricity demand, environmental concerns and the potential impact on local residents.
