Trump Defends Data Center Expansion Amid Growing Calls for a Moratorium

President Donald Trump asserted that “smart” communities across the United States “really want” new data centers, despite widespread public opposition. Speaking at a rally for his “Ratepayer Protection Pledge,” Trump suggested that polls showing 70 % of Americans against local data centers are the result of “propaganda.” His remarks came as climate-activist group 350.org and several Democratic lawmakers urged a national pause on new facilities.

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Grassroots protests have surged, with 142 demonstrations organized by Trump supporters in 42 states targeting artificial-intelligence data centers. The protests have highlighted concerns over rising electricity bills, high water consumption, and limited permanent jobs. In response, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed an executive order banning “hyperscale” data centers that would consume 50 megawatts of power for one year. Earlier, Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) introduced legislation in March to halt construction of such facilities nationwide.

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• Consumer Reports estimates at least 1,489 new data centers are currently planned or under construction in the United States.

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• Approximately 100 projects were cancelled or faced major obstacles last year, a rate that has quadrupled since 2024.

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• Protests have occurred in multiple states, including Wisconsin and Michigan, reflecting broad community resistance.

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Trump emphasized that communities “begging” for data centers would create “a tremendous number of jobs,” framing the expansion as a local economic benefit. 350.org’s US campaigns manager Candice Fortin argued that ordinary families are paying higher electricity costs to subsidize “artificially cheap power” for data centers, describing the practice as lacking accountability. Fortin also clarified that a moratorium is not anti-technology but aims to protect ratepayers from deals that favor wealthy interests.

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• “You have some communities that really want this,” — Donald Trump, president

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• “Right now, ordinary families are paying more on their electricity bills so that data centers can get artificially cheap power, negotiated in secret with almost no accountability for the real costs,” — Candice Fortin, US campaigns manager at 350

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• “A moratorium isn't about being anti-technology, it's about refusing to let communities and ratepayers be steamrolled into deals that benefit billionaires while everyone else pays,” — Candice Fortin, US campaigns manager at 350

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