President Donald Trump said early Wednesday that large data centers should generate their own electricity and provide financial benefits to the communities where they are built. “I order new and large, in some cases giant, data centers to generate their own electricity,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. “As President of the United States, I have been looking very closely at data centers and have come to a very strong conclusion. New, large, in some cases giant, data centers are mandated to produce their own electricity and give or sell any surplus to the community or local grid, and therefore there is an increase in the price of electricity. In fact, there could be a substantial decrease. Other elements too! If companies want to make their data centers popular, they pay the community and/or the individuals within of the community, a ‘dividend.’ I have watched the process closely and data centers that were very unpopular in a certain area have become extremely popular when a financial agreement is reached. MAKE OFFERS and build them!!! GREAT FOR USA President DJT” – President Donald Trump on Truth SocialSaid that facilities should sell or return excess energy to local communities or the power grid, which could reduce electricity prices. Trump also urged technology companies to offer residents a “dividend” to generate support for data center projects, which have faced opposition for their significant energy and water demands. “DO BUSINESS and build it!!! GREAT FOR USA,” Trump wrote. The president said the administration’s policy is aimed at preventing consumers from absorbing the cost of boosting the AI industry. The comments follow similar proposals from Anthropic and Elon Musk to distribute some of the financial gains from artificial intelligence to the public.
