The US data centre industry has warned the Trump administration’s crackdown on renewable energy could slow its growth and undermine Washington’s goal to win the global artificial intelligence race. Renewables have become a flashpoint since Donald Trump re-entered the White House, with his administration suspending clean energy developments on federal land, pausing federal loans and last month cancelling high-profile projects such as Equinor’s $5bn Empire Wind site. For tech companies struggling to secure reliable energy supplies to power and train AI, a clampdown on renewables could create power bottlenecks, drive up costs and push operators towards dirtier energy, experts said. Simon Ninan, senior vice-president at Hitachi Vantara, which builds equipment and infrastructure for data centres, said the Trump administration’s “antagonistic approach” towards renewable energy could make it “impossible to satisfy the data growth that’s happening”. “Strategically, the US could risk undermining its current pole position in the global AI race . . . China, on the other hand, has taken a proactive approach towards grid modernisation and efficient power distribution.” Energy shortages could “result in cancellation or delays in data centre buildouts or infrastructure upgrades”, he said.

Full report : US data center operators warn President Trump’s renewable energy attack could hurt the US in the AI race; data centers are set to add 83.7GW of demand by 2030.