# The Trump administration wants underwater datacenters. One Great Lakes non-profit is already preparing

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/the-trump-administration-wants-underwater-datacenters-one-great-lakes-non-profit-is-already-preparing/
- Published: 2026-11-07T14:00:14+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-07T15:51:34+00:00
- Original publisher: The Guardian (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/nov/07/underwater-datacenters-great-lakes-trump
- Topics: Business, Politics, Space, Technology

## Key points

- US officials are reportedly weighing four underwater datacentres.
- Great Lakes groups fear heat or leaks could harm freshwater.
- No Great Lakes projects have been proposed so far.

## Summary

The Trump administration is reportedly considering four sealed-pod datacentres off Maine and Alaska, while technology firms are exploring underwater sites to avoid local opposition and potentially reduce costs. The prospect has prompted environmental groups around the Great Lakes to prepare for possible proposals, although no projects are currently planned there.

Two underwater datacentres are operating off China, and a Microsoft trial off Scotland found server failures were 87% lower than in comparable land-based facilities after two years. Lake Erie Foundation’s John Lipaj warns that heat, leaks or equipment failures could affect water quality and wildlife; the lake already faces harmful algal blooms, pollution and warming. A proposed Ohio law easing wastewater discharge by datacentres was rejected last July after public opposition, while New York’s temporary construction moratorium ends in mid-2027.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.