Trump Calls on AI Data Centers to Share Financial Benefits with Communities
(MENAFN) US President Donald Trump has called on operators of large artificial intelligence data centers to establish financial arrangements with nearby communities and distribute dividends to residents, seeking to address growing public opposition linked to rising electricity costs.
In a statement published on his social media platform Truth Social on Wednesday, Trump urged companies to provide direct financial benefits to people living near their facilities, arguing that sharing the economic gains could help secure local support for new projects.
"If companies want to make their data centers popular, pay the community, and/or individuals within the community, a 'dividend,'" Trump wrote, suggesting that financial agreements with residents could help overcome resistance to developments facing strong local opposition.
Trump also emphasized that large data centers should generate their own electricity instead of placing additional pressure on public power networks. He said new facilities should be required to "make their own electricity, and give or sell any excess back to the local community, or grid," arguing that this approach could limit increases in utility bills and potentially lead to "a substantial decrease" in electricity rates.
The proposal comes as the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure raises concerns about electricity demand, the cost of expanding power generation and the impact on households. The United States has more than 5,000 data centers, while the number of facilities is projected to grow by approximately 9% annually through 2030, according to figures cited from the US Department of Commerce.
Debate over the sector's energy requirements is intensifying ahead of the 2026 US midterm elections, with opposition to new data center projects emerging as a concern for communities worried about higher residential electricity bills.
Public sentiment has reflected these concerns across party lines. A Gallup survey found that 71% of Americans opposed developing data centers in their local areas because of fears that the facilities would increase household utility costs.
Trump's latest proposal builds on the voluntary Ratepayer Protection Pledge introduced in March, which called on technology companies to assume responsibility for the costs associated with electricity generation and transmission.
By encouraging direct payments to residents and requiring data centers to provide their own power, the administration is seeking to address concerns over who should bear the financial burden of expanding AI infrastructure as demand for computing capacity continues to grow.
In a statement published on his social media platform Truth Social on Wednesday, Trump urged companies to provide direct financial benefits to people living near their facilities, arguing that sharing the economic gains could help secure local support for new projects.
"If companies want to make their data centers popular, pay the community, and/or individuals within the community, a 'dividend,'" Trump wrote, suggesting that financial agreements with residents could help overcome resistance to developments facing strong local opposition.
Trump also emphasized that large data centers should generate their own electricity instead of placing additional pressure on public power networks. He said new facilities should be required to "make their own electricity, and give or sell any excess back to the local community, or grid," arguing that this approach could limit increases in utility bills and potentially lead to "a substantial decrease" in electricity rates.
The proposal comes as the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure raises concerns about electricity demand, the cost of expanding power generation and the impact on households. The United States has more than 5,000 data centers, while the number of facilities is projected to grow by approximately 9% annually through 2030, according to figures cited from the US Department of Commerce.
Debate over the sector's energy requirements is intensifying ahead of the 2026 US midterm elections, with opposition to new data center projects emerging as a concern for communities worried about higher residential electricity bills.
Public sentiment has reflected these concerns across party lines. A Gallup survey found that 71% of Americans opposed developing data centers in their local areas because of fears that the facilities would increase household utility costs.
Trump's latest proposal builds on the voluntary Ratepayer Protection Pledge introduced in March, which called on technology companies to assume responsibility for the costs associated with electricity generation and transmission.
By encouraging direct payments to residents and requiring data centers to provide their own power, the administration is seeking to address concerns over who should bear the financial burden of expanding AI infrastructure as demand for computing capacity continues to grow.
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