Donald Trump’s AI Order Threatens Everyday Georgians’ Wallets

ATLANTA - Donald Trump has 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 and pollution.

The critical state protections that Donald Trump wants to prosecute-including guardrails like large load tariffs-are in place to ensure everyday Americans are not held liable for data centers' massive power and infrastructure needs. 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 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.

Georgia Power has been rolling the red carpet out for AI data center projects, cancelling planned retirements of coal plants, expanding nuclear power at Plant Vogtle, and increasing our reliance on methane gas to support the data center bubble. However, several cities and counties have passed ordinances and restrictions on the projects after residents voiced their opposition.

In response, the Sierra Club issued the following statements:

"If data centers want to come to Georgia, it's only fair that they be good neighbors. Communities across our state have worked hard for protection against these disruptive, energy-guzzling projects and local governments have responded," said Hannah Baker, Organizer with the Sierra Club's Georgia Chapter. "By destroying guardrails around AI data centers, Trump is destroying our right to do what's best for our communities."

"This executive order is nothing more than federal overreach that will further increase costs and remove protections for the American people," said Sierra Club Principal Advisor Jeremy Fisher. "These state protections are in place because Americans have a right to privacy and transparency, and must not be held responsible for the massive costs of data centers operated by some of the richest companies in the world. Utility bills have already been skyrocketing due to growing energy demand from data centers and utilities' reliance on expensive fossil fuels, and we must be doing everything we can to lower these costs and prioritize affordability.

"If Donald Trump cares at all about lowering costs for Americans, he should work on setting up more safeguards for customers, rather than bulldozing the progress states have made thus far," Fisher added. "Unfortunately for us, this order makes it clear he's only interested in bolstering profits for his billionaire buddies in Big Tech at our expense."

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.