Trump Promotes Data Centers During Ohio Rally as Critics Cite Energy and Pollution Concerns
President Donald Trump promoted data centers during a rally in Vandalia, Ohio, arguing they would bring significant economic benefits and help the United States compete with China. Critics say data centers create relatively few local jobs while increasing energy costs and causing noise, light and pollution concerns; a bill requiring large power users to pay more of their energy costs was blocked in the Senate.
President Donald Trump urged Ohio residents to support data center development during a rally in Vandalia, north of Dayton. He argued that the facilities could generate substantial economic benefits for Ohio and warned that restricting them could allow China to gain an advantage in artificial intelligence.
Opponents contend that data centers provide limited local employment while driving up electricity prices and contributing to noise, light and pollution. Sen. Jon Husted has faced criticism over tax incentives and other efforts to attract data centers to Ohio, while former Sen. Sherrod Brown has made those ties a campaign issue. A Husted-backed bill that would have required large power users to bear more of their energy costs was blocked by Senate Democrats.