Trump defends data centers, slams New York's 'terrible' moratorium
Former President Donald Trump publicly defended data centers, touting them as economic boons, and criticized New York Governor Kathy Hochul's new one-year moratorium on data center construction. Hochul's executive order, signed July 14, halts new data center development in New York while the state develops new standards for these facilities.
Former President Donald Trump publicly defended data centers and condemned New York Governor Kathy Hochul's new one-year moratorium on their construction, calling her decision "terrible" and politically motivated. Trump, in a July 15 Truth Social post, championed data centers as significant economic drivers, bringing "LIQUID GOLD" in taxes and jobs, particularly to "red states" like Alabama, Florida, and Texas. He demanded New York "change its Policy, IMMEDIATELY."
Governor Hochul had signed an executive order on July 14, instituting a pause on new data center developments while the state establishes new standards for the facilities. This made New York the first state to implement such a halt. Data centers, crucial for powering artificial intelligence, face widespread community resistance due to their large footprint, high electricity and water demands, noise production, and perceived lack of direct local benefits. Critics also contend that these facilities disproportionately target low-income areas.
Trump's comments also touched upon broader concerns about states impeding AI advancement, noting the competition with China in AI innovation. He previously signed an executive order in June, requesting voluntary security risk submissions from AI developers.