ScienceAugust 26, 2026

Mothers and Health Groups Challenge Coal for AI Power

Key Vocabulary

appeal/əˈpiːl/
A formal request asking someone to change a decision or action.
"The group sent an appeal to the government."
pollution/pəˈluː.ʃən/
Harmful substances in the air, water, or soil.
"Heavy pollution can harm children’s lungs."
executive order/ɪɡˈzɛk.jə.tɪv ˈɔːr.dər/
A rule or action given by the president that affects government policy.
"The 2025 executive order encouraged coal use."
geothermal/ˌdʒiː.oʊˈθɜːr.məl/
Energy that comes from heat under the earth.
"Geothermal energy can heat buildings without burning fuel."

Listening

Mothers and Health Groups Challenge Coal for AI Power

Leaders in the MAHA movement have recently urged President Donald Trump to stop promoting coal as a power source for artificial intelligence data centers. The appeal was sent in a letter that has been signed by nearly 200 activists, and it names prominent figures such as Zen Honeycutt, the founder of Moms Across America, and Charles Eisenstein, a former campaign speechwriter. The group argues that while data centers need vast amounts of electricity, burning coal will increase pollution and health risks for children and communities. They note that a 2025 executive order aimed to boost coal use for data centers, and this has raised alarm among MAHA members.

Although the movement does not always speak with one voice, many MAHA activists have focused on chemical exposures and environmental health for years, so their stance on coal is consistent with earlier campaigns. Therefore, they call for cleaner alternatives such as solar and geothermal energy that can meet computing demand without adding soot or toxic metals to soil and water. Furthermore, they ask federal officials to consider public health when setting energy policy, because protecting children’s health is central to the movement’s mission.

191 words

Quiz

1. How many activists have signed the letter?
2. What energy alternatives do they call for?
3. Who is the founder of Moms Across America?

Reading Practice

Read the article from the Listening section aloud. Your AI teacher will give you pronunciation feedback.

Discussion

1

Do you think new technology should affect how we get energy? Why or why not?

2

Have you or your family changed habits because of health advice? What changed?

3

What local energy sources are common in your area?

4

Would you support a community project to add solar panels? Why?

このコンテンツは英語学習を目的としたものであり、事実の正確性を保証するものではありません。