EPA administrator Lee Zeldin warns against banning data centers in US, and it’s to not ‘let China win’

Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lee Zeldin is pushing back against the idea of banning data centers, arguing that a nationwide moratorium would hand a massive advantage to China in the global race for artificial intelligence supremacy, The Hill reported. Zeldin believes the United States needs to maintain its lead in the AI sector while simultaneously addressing the valid concerns that local communities have about these massive facilities.

People are worried about the environmental impact of these projects and the potential for increased energy costs in their own neighborhoods. A poll released in late July highlights this tension, showing that 70 percent of voters oppose the construction of data centers near their homes to support AI. Additionally, 78 percent of those surveyed support slowing down the building process to ensure that environmental and community impacts are properly addressed.

Zeldin acknowledged these frustrations, noting that citizens have important questions about how these structures are planned and built. He emphasized that the goal should not be to stop progress entirely, but to ensure that the infrastructure is developed responsibly. According to Zeldin, we have to make sure that these projects are a net provider onto the grid, not a net taker.

The development of data centers has become a flashpoint for many residents across the country

Zeldin also pointed out that developers need to focus on water sustainability. He stated, “We have to make sure that they are making important reuse 100 percent recyclable water … or better if they don’t need water at all. They need to be responsible users of water.”

The push for more data centers is a significant part of the current political conversation, especially as President Trump works to expand this technology. To help balance these interests, the administration has introduced a voluntary ratepayer protection pledge. This initiative encourages major corporations to cover the increased energy costs associated with their projects. So far, Amazon, Google, Meta, and 100 other companies have agreed to participate in this pledge.

Zeldin urged people to realize how much daily life relies right now on data centers. If we were to implement a statewide moratorium as some have suggested, we would be stepping back from a critical technological frontier, according to his viewpoint.

Zeldin summarized the situation by highlighting the stakes involved in the broader AI competition. He said, “There’s been a push from some states where they’re talking about a statewide moratorium and what I’ve found is that most of this country wants to make sure the United States wins this race to be the AI capital of the world, that we do not relinquish this to China.”

The path forward, according to the EPA administrator, involves finding a balance between local responsibility and national ambition. He concluded by saying, “But what we can’t do is just say, well, let’s not have any data centers built all across the entire country and let’s just let China win.”