Former President Donald Trump criticized a new executive order from New York Governor Kathy Hochul that imposes a moratorium on data center construction, stating on social media that the state's policy should be changed "immediately" after becoming the first in the nation to enact such a ban.
He wrote: "Data centers are one of the biggest job creators of the future. They are big, powerful, and bold, and are like 'money printing machines' for their states. Governor Kathy Hochul has halted all data centers under construction or planned in New York State for political reasons."
The new state order, signed by the governor on Tuesday, prohibits the construction of new large-scale data centers with power consumption at or above 50 megawatts for up to one year.
Trump wrote on Wednesday: "New York has made a terrible decision."
Nationwide, public opposition to the freshwater and electricity consumption of data centers is growing, as utility prices continue to rise and surging demand for artificial intelligence is driving rapid infrastructure expansion.
In a press release announcing the moratorium, Hochul stated: "Because data center development could lead to increased utility costs, consume our natural resources, and create uncertainty for New Yorkers, I have a responsibility to act and provide leadership."
With midterm elections approaching, the issue of how data centers should cover their own power costs has sparked widespread discussion. Democrats are focusing on affordability concerns, while resident dissatisfaction with new construction persists.
In his post, Trump also urged that data centers "must" pay for their own water and electricity, with any surplus resources being returned to state and local communities.
Hochul responded to the former president on social media platform X: "We are pressing pause because the communities powering AI should share in its success. That might be a new concept in Washington. We call it 'doing your job.'"
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