Trump Administration Considers Underwater Datacenters in Alaska and Maine

The Trump administration is considering the construction of four sealed-pod underwater datacenters off the coasts of Alaska and Maine. President Donald Trump has expressed a desire to attract this type of investment to the United States to compete with China, where two such facilities are already operational.

While Microsoft previously conducted a successful underwater project in Scotland, the company stated it currently has no plans to deploy underwater datacenters in any location. The United States Environmental Protection Agency has expressed support for infrastructure essential to maintaining leadership in "Super Intelligence," provided that water quality is protected.

Environmental concerns have emerged regarding the potential for thermal shock to aquatic ecosystems and an increase in harmful algal blooms caused by heat discharge. In response, the Lake Erie Foundation is lobbying state legislators in Ohio, Michigan, and New York to establish regulations before developers submit proposals. These efforts follow a recent vote by residents of Conneaut, Ohio, to prohibit the construction of large land-based datacenters in their area.