President Donald Trump has urged data centre operators to pay local communities, or people living in them, a dividend to win support for new facilities, CNBC reports. In a post on Truth Social on Wednesday, he said unpopular projects became popular once a financial deal was struck, and told companies to make deals and get them built.
Trump also said large new data centres were required to generate their own electricity and give or sell any surplus to the local community or grid. Opposition to data centres over power, water and electricity prices has grown ahead of November's midterm elections, with several states considering moratoriums.
Marc Boroditsky, chief revenue officer at AI infrastructure firm Nebius, told CNBC the idea was worth considering. Data centre shares have come under pressure this week amid concerns over the sector's rising debt.
Source: CNBC
