Trump Makes Economic Case For Data Centers

With moratoriums on data centers in effect across New York State and Brookhaven Town, President Donald Trump argued that communities should welcome the facilities for the jobs, tax revenue and additional electricity they could provide.

Speaking with reporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, Trump acknowledged that some communities may be better suited than others for the energy-intensive developments.

“The data center subject, to me, is a very simple one,” Trump said. “If you pick the right location, and not every location is perfect for it, what it means for a community is jobs and lots of money and lower taxes.”

Trump said data centers should generate their own electricity rather than place additional demands on existing utility infrastructure, addressing one of the primary concerns raised by Brookhaven residents.

“The data centers, as mandated now by me, they build their own electricity, so they are not taking it from the grid,” Trump said. “It’s going to lower the electric cost because they are building electricity and the extra will go back into the grid.”

He added, “It was my idea, and I’m very proud of it.”

Brookhaven officials unanimously approved an 18-month moratorium on data center applications after residents raised concerns about rising electric bills, potential brownouts, groundwater consumption and environmental impacts.

Gov. Kathy Hochul separately imposed a statewide, 12-month pause on large data centers consuming 50 megawatts or more while New York develops additional safeguards.

Trump maintained that independently powered facilities could actually improve local electricity supplies.

“They are trying to build their own electric-producing facilities, and the electricity that they have left over is going to the grid,” he said. “It’s going to lower the cost of electricity.”

While saying Republicans who oppose particular projects are free to do so, Trump emphasized that he would actively pursue data centers as a local or state official.

“If I was a mayor or if I was a governor in a state, I would want to have the data center because they bring tremendous income,” Trump said. “They are clean. They produce their own energy. I would want to have data centers.”