Trump suggests a community 'dividend' to defuse data center backlash
Trump said that data centers, which have sparked public backlash in many communities, could become more popular if locals received a "dividend."
President Donald Trump suggested that data center companies pay a dividend to local communities to boost public support for the controversial projects. In a Truth Social post, Trump encouraged companies to make deals with communities, without specifying the amount of money they should return. The post came after a growing backlash against data center construction across the US, with some investors expressing concerns about noise, rising electricity bills, and potential impacts on quality of life.
A survey by Data Center Watch found that 75 data center projects were delayed or canceled in the first quarter of this year due to local opposition. Some companies have already tried to appease locals with financial incentives, such as SpaceX offering a 50% discount on its Starlink internet service to Memphis residents and NorthPoint Development promising to pay households $10,000 if they approve a data center in Pennsylvania.
Trump also referenced his previous proposal for tech companies to cover power costs when building data centers to maintain stable electricity prices. In his Wednesday post, Trump claimed that implementing these new conditions would be "great for the U.S.A."
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