Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) voiced considerations Thursday about President Trump’s push to construct out synthetic intelligence (AI) infrastructure, warning in regards to the “massive” water utilization of knowledge facilities.
Trump laid out his method to the know-how in his AI Motion Plan on Wednesday and signed three govt orders aimed toward delivering on parts of the plan, together with fast-tracking information middle development, boosting the export of American AI and barring “woke” AI in federal contracting.
“I have many concerns about the AI Executive Order signed yesterday by President Trump,” Greene wrote in a prolonged put up on X. “While I understand the many promised benefits of AI, I remain committed to protecting state rights, human jobs, human lives, human rights, our environment and critical water supply.”
Whereas Greene mentions a singular govt order, she seems be referring to each the broader AI framework, in addition to the orders signed by the president.
Below the AI Motion Plan, the administration requires exempting “data center-related actions” from environmental evaluation. It additionally seeks to fast-track information middle and vitality tasks beneath the nation’s allowing system, whereas contemplating a nationwide allow to permit these tasks to maneuver ahead regardless of potential water high quality impacts.
“Rushed AI expansion and data centers being built all over the country from state to state with no plan in regards to environmental and critical water supply impact has massive future implications and problems,” Greene stated.
AI requires an enormous quantity of energy, which is why the Trump administration is pushing to increase the nation’s information middle and vitality infrastructure. Nonetheless, these information facilities additionally require water for cooling.
“I’ve been in construction my entire life,” Greene added. “I can tell you firsthand, when you move dirt there is always an impact to the surrounding area. When you build something that requires a HIGH water demand, it will always take water away from others – that means people, cities, businesses, and surrounding counties and states.”
The Georgia Republican additionally took concern with the AI plan’s push to roll again laws on AI, significantly on the state degree. The administration requires limiting federal funding to states whose AI laws are deemed too onerous and directs the Federal Communications Fee to judge whether or not state AI guidelines intervene with its mandate.
“My deep concerns are that the EO demands rapid AI expansion with little to no guardrails and breaks,” she stated.
She in contrast the restrictions on federal funding to an AI provision that was in the end faraway from Trump’s “big, beautiful bill,” which he signed into regulation earlier this month.
The supply sought to bar states from regulating AI for 10 years by withholding federal funds. Greene opposed the AI moratorium, which was faraway from the invoice by a 99-1 vote within the Senate.
“Competing with China does not mean become like China by threatening state rights, replacing human jobs on mass scale creating mass poverty, and creating potentially devastating effects on our environment and critical water supply,” she added. “This needs a careful and wise approach. The AI EO takes the opposite.”
