Health-focused MAHA coalition urges Trump to halt coal expansion for AI data centers
A coalition of health and environmental groups linked to the MAHA movement sent a letter to President Trump asking him not to increase coal power to meet AI data-center electricity needs.
Health-focused activists and environmental NGOs connected to the Make America Health Again (MAHA) movement have drafted a near-200-signatory letter to President Donald Trump, commending his selection of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services while urging him to reject any coal-power expansion to power AI data centers. The petition highlights the health hazards of coal-related air pollution, water contamination from ash, and a recent surge in miner lung disease.
It points to a sharp increase in electricity demand driven by large-scale data-center construction and warns that the administration’s policy of extending coal-plant lifespans and allocating federal upgrade funds could exacerbate toxic exposure. Signatories include MAHA leaders such as Charles Eisenstein, David Murphy, Zen Honeycutt, Aimee Villella McBride, and Kristen Meghan Kelly, many of whom have worked on Robert Kennedy’s 2024 presidential bid.
The coalition asks the White House to prioritize pollution controls, transparency, and community involvement instead of defaulting to coal for AI energy needs. It also urges stronger regulatory oversight of data-center siting.
Why it matters
Expanding coal for AI could increase pollution and health risks despite growing demand for clean energy.
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