President Donald Trump has called on communities in the United States to embrace data centres, despite bipartisan concerns regarding their electricity and water consumption. During a statement on Monday, Trump suggested that opposition to data centres could lead to economic decline, stating, "The only reason that communities throughout the USA should not want Data Centers is if they want to end up being backwards and poor." He emphasized the potential for job creation and economic growth, urging, "If they want to be successful and rich, with far lower taxes and jobs all over the place, let Data Reign."
The push for data centres comes as their demand increases, particularly to support the growing use of artificial intelligence. However, skepticism remains among both Republican and Democratic voters due to the high electricity consumption of these facilities, which raises concerns about the power grid's stability and potential utility bill increases.
The Trump administration has supported a voluntary pledge from tech companies to cover their energy costs, while consumer protection advocates have called for stricter federal regulations on data centres. Environmental activists have also raised alarms about the significant water usage required for cooling servers, especially in drought-affected areas.
A Gallup poll from March indicated that 71 percent of Americans oppose the establishment of AI data centres in their communities. The issue has gained traction across the political spectrum, with some pro-business Republicans expressing reservations. For instance, Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers in Michigan has proposed a one-year pause on data centres, which his Democratic opponent, Abdul El-Sayed, has criticized. El-Sayed advocates for an indefinite pause until regulations are established to ensure job creation, manage utility costs, and protect water resources.
In response to the concerns, Vice President JD Vance acknowledged the importance of data centres in the AI economy but suggested that tech firms should contribute to the power grid rather than deplete it. He stated, "If you build a data centre, you should be putting power back into the grid, not taking it out."