US Energy Secretary Chris Wright defends data center expansion

U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright addressed supporters of data centers at an Amazon Web Services conference, urging them to counter critics who claim the facilities waste water, strain power supplies and threaten jobs through artificial intelligence. Wright said these concerns are “overblown,” likening the pushback to the resistance he faced over fracking, and warned opponents they “cannot win.” He cited a Reuters/Ipsos poll showing only one‑in‑three Americans approve the rapid pace of data‑center construction ahead of the November midterm elections. Wright encouraged backers to share facts with skeptical neighbours and be proud of their projects. The remarks came as investor Kevin O’Leary, who had planned a 40,000‑acre Utah data‑center, walked back accusations that the project was funded by China and agreed to scale back the development to protect wildlife.