Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick asserted on Wednesday that artificial intelligence data centers do not consume significant amounts of water, characterizing such claims as "propaganda by our adversaries." However, this statement contradicts both available data and Lutnick's own previous remarks.
During a CNBC interview, Lutnick dismissed concerns about the water usage of data centers, describing them as "world-class productions" that yield "huge economics." He suggested that communities opposing these centers risk falling behind.
Data from the Florida Water & Pollution Control Operators Association indicates that medium-sized data centers can require up to 100 million gallons of water annually for cooling, with larger facilities potentially using between 1 and 5 million gallons per day during peak operations.
Lutnick's current stance also conflicts with his statements from the previous year. In an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News, Lutnick acknowledged that "these AI things suck water. They need water." This earlier admission was highlighted by social media users, including a post from Acyn Torabi, senior digital editor at MeidasTouch, which juxtaposed the two contradictory statements.
The Trump administration has actively promoted the development of data centers. President Trump stated on Tuesday that communities opposing their construction would become "backwards and poor."
However, this push has sparked opposition from a coalition of ranching, farming, and environmental groups. Concerns raised include the potential negative impact on drought-affected waterways, pollution in agricultural areas, and the reduction of farmland.
HuffPost reported that attempts to seek clarification from Lutnick regarding his statement on data center water usage did not elicit an immediate response. Social media commentary also pointed to past contradictory statements made by Lutnick concerning his relationship with financier Jeffrey Epstein.