Activists urge Trump to stop promoting coal to fuel energy-hungry data centers
Activists from Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s "Make America Healthy Again" movement are criticizing former President Donald Trump's promotion of coal to power AI data centers, citing pollution concerns. They sent a letter advocating for renewable energy options like solar and geothermal, and for transparent review of data center location and power sourcing decisions. The issue of data center energy has become a political flashpoint, with voters expressing concerns over electricity bills, water usage, and pollution.
Nearly 200 activists associated with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s "Make America Healthy Again" movement are publicly criticizing former President Donald Trump's advocacy for using coal to power artificial intelligence data centers. A letter, sent Friday and first obtained by The Associated Press, targets a 2025 executive order that aimed to boost coal use for data centers, citing significant concerns about pollution and suggesting renewable alternatives such as solar and geothermal energy.
The activists, including former Kennedy campaign staffers Zen Honeycutt and Charles Eisenstein, emphasized that American leadership in AI should not come at the cost of increased health burdens for children. White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers responded by highlighting decreased greenhouse gas emissions during Trump's first term and defending the rollback of "radical climate policies." This public rift marks the MAHA movement's first major mobilization over fossil fuels.
Data centers have emerged as a significant political issue in recent elections, drawing criticism from voters across the spectrum regarding rising electricity bills, strained water supplies, and increased air and noise pollution. Honeycutt specifically voiced concerns about the environmental impact of coal ash and the broader land use implications of data centers, asserting that many in the MAHA movement are disappointed with the administration's stance on these issues.