Vance defends data centers, warns on utility bills

Vice President JD Vance addressed concerns about the political fallout from President Trump's push for more data centers ahead of the midterms. Vance said data centers are a vital part of the AI economy, but stressed that developers should be adding power back to the grid rather than draining it. "If that is happening, I don't think data centers are that controversial," he said. He cautioned that public backlash could grow if the expansion leads to sharply higher utility bills for consumers, calling that scenario "a real problem." The comments come as the administration touts AI infrastructure growth while navigating voter sensitivity over energy costs heading into the midterm elections.