Closeup of a computer screen with computer code.

Trump pushes for federally backed AI data hubs as power needs surge

The Trump administration will build artificial intelligence data centers on 16 Department of Energy sites, aiming to boost U.S. AI infrastructure amid power and space constraints.

Ashleigh Fields reports for The Hill.

In short:

The Department of Energy announced it will use federal land to host 16 AI data centers, drawing on national labs and private-sector partnerships.
The plan follows two Trump executive orders focused on enhancing domestic AI capacity and energy independence, with operations expected to begin by 2027.
Trump previously announced a $500 billion private investment push involving companies like Oracle, OpenAI, and SoftBank to support the AI sector’s power demands.

Key quote:

“The global race for AI dominance is the next Manhattan project, and with President Trump’s leadership and the innovation of our National Labs, the United States can and will win.”

— Chris Wright, Secretary of Energy

Why this matters:

As tech companies race to train ever-larger AI models and serve real-time results, they lean heavily on sprawling data centers — warehouses of servers that run nonstop, consuming electricity on par with small cities. That has put pressure on local grids, drawn scrutiny over siting decisions, and prompted a broader reckoning over the environmental footprint of the digital economy. The U.S. Department of Energy’s decision to use federal land for AI infrastructure could ease permitting bottlenecks and streamline development, but it also raises concerns about emissions, water use, and whether communities near these sites will share in the economic benefits or bear the environmental burdens.

thehill.com

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New Trump-era EPA move could let polluters dodge toxic air rules

A new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency policy under the Trump administration may allow chemical giants to sidestep rules that limit mercury, benzene, and other hazardous pollutants — with big consequences for public health.

Matthew Daly reports for the Associated Press.

In short:

Industry groups representing ExxonMobil, Dow, Chevron, and hundreds of other chemical and petrochemical makers are lobbying the EPA for blanket exemptions from air pollution rules, citing high costs and “unworkable” timelines.
The EPA, now led by Lee Zeldin, has set up what environmental groups have called a “polluters’ portal” — an email inbox where companies can request two-year exemptions from nine Biden-era environmental rules.
Environmental groups warn that this loophole could result in increased exposure to pollutants known to cause cancer, asthma, and birth defects, especially in children.

Key quote:

“There is no basis in U.S. clean air laws — and in decency — for this absolute free pass to pollute.”

— Vickie Patton, general counsel, Environmental Defense Fund

Why this matters:

This policy could open the floodgates to more cancer-causing fumes, more neurotoxins in kids’ bodies, and more birth defects — especially in the communities that already bear the brunt of pollution. It's one in a series of major regulatory rollbacks that Zeldin has announced that have major implications for public health and well-being.

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