Sierra Club Iowa Statement: Donald Trump’s AI Order Threatens Everyday Customers’ Wallets

DES MOINES, Iowa- Last night, Donald Trump issued an executive orderseeking to remove state guardrails around artificial intelligence and the infrastructure needed to run AI, including popular state-level initiatives to require data center build transparency, protect privacy, and reduce impacts on electric affordability, air pollution, and water usage. While two new data center campuses are under construction in Cedar Rapids, several other data center projects are underway or have been proposed in Iowa.

The critical state protections at risk-including guardrails like large load tariffs-are in place to ensure everyday Americans are not held liable for data centers' massive power, water and infrastructure use. Across the country, Sierra Club has helped utilities, regulators, and consumer advocates implement commonsense safeguards like long-term contracts, credit guarantees, and minimum bills that protect affordability for residential customers.

The executive order also seeks to get rid of state standards that protect Americans from water pollution, water depletion, and toxic fossil fuel pollution at data centers. If these protections get rolled back-which Trump's Environmental Protection Agency is already trying to do-Americans will be exposed to far more pollutants in their air and water.

In response, Sierra Club Iowa Chapter Director Pam Mackey-Taylor issued the following statement:

"This executive order won't do anything to decrease costs or protect us. Here in Iowa, we are fighting for state protections because we all have a right to privacy and transparency, and everyday Iowans should not be held responsible for the massive costs of data centers operated by the likes of Google and Microsoft.

Utility bills are skyrocketing nationwide due to growing energy demand from data centers and utilities' reliance on expensive fossil fuels-Iowa doesn't want to be next. We care about keeping our state affordable and shouldn't have to compete with Big Tech for water. Our state leaders must be doing everything in their power to lower these costs, prioritize affordability, and set safeguards for all of us, rather than bulldozing secret or unvetted projects through communities that are struggling to keep the lights on and keep water drinkable. We need to stand up for an affordable, livable future in Iowa."

About the Sierra Club

The Sierra Club is America's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit https://www.sierraclub.org.