Trump floats cash payments amid backlash over AI data centers

President Donald Trump suggested technology companies should compensate communities hosting large AI data centers, after growing public concerns about impacts on electricity bills and local water supplies. In a Truth Social post Wednesday, he said developers could win residents’ support by sharing financial benefits, pointing to cases where unpopular projects became popular after deals were struck. Trump also reiterated his call for companies to generate their own electricity and send surplus back to the community or the grid. A new AP-NORC poll found 53% of Americans are extremely or very concerned about AI’s environmental consequences, up from 41% last year, and about 6 in 10 support restrictions on new data center construction. Concerns focus on power demand and water usage, especially as planned sites shift toward rural areas.