Rep. Josh Gottheimer: You can't get rid of data centers, but put them only where people want them

Watch on YouTube ↗  |  September 16, 2026 at 18:39  |  5:30  |  CNBC
Speakers
Brian Sullivan — Anchor, CNBC (Last Call / Power Lunch)
Josh Gottheimer — U.S. Representative, New Jersey; Co-Chair, House Democratic Commission on AI

Summary

Rep. Josh Gottheimer joins CNBC to discuss Federal Reserve policy, inflation, utility costs, AI, and data centers. He argues against higher interest rates, supports permitting reform to lower electricity bills, and says data centers are necessary but must be sited responsibly. The host frames AI and data center spending as a major multi-year investment theme.

  • Rep. Josh Gottheimer appears on CNBC to discuss Fed policy and affordability.
  • He opposes higher interest rates and wants lower rates to help consumers and manage debt.
  • He says utility bills have risen sharply and backs permitting reform to boost electricity supply.
  • He argues data centers are here to stay but should be sited where communities want them.
  • He says AI is here and uses significant electricity, requiring smart management.
  • The host highlights trillions in planned AI and data center spending as a key investment theme.
  • Other topics include health care costs, Medicare for All skepticism, and high gasoline and diesel prices.
Ideas
Brian Sullivan Anchor, CNBC (Last Call / Power Lunch) 0:22
AI data-center spending is a multi-year theme
Investment dollars may be more impacted by AI and data centers than by the Federal Reserve. With trillions in spending planned over the next couple of years, AI spending is a multi-year theme and one of the biggest and most impactful spending sprees in modern history.
Josh Gottheimer U.S. Representative, New Jersey; Co-Chair, House Democratic Commission on AI 5:19
Data centers face local siting constraints
Data centers are necessary and cannot be eliminated, but development must be done the right way: sited only where communities want them, with electric and water bills going down rather than up, and without giving tax breaks. This implies data center buildout will continue but faces local-consent and cost-allocation constraints.
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This CNBC video, published September 16, 2026, features Brian Sullivan, Josh Gottheimer discussing AI-SECTOR, DTCR. 2 trade ideas extracted by AI with direction and confidence scoring.

Speakers: Brian Sullivan, Josh Gottheimer  · Tickers: AI-SECTOR, DTCR