A new report from the Bitcoin Policy Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank, proposes a 'data center dividends' model to address growing opposition to artificial intelligence (AI) data centers across rural America [1]. The proposal suggests returning a portion of property tax revenue generated by AI data centers directly to households in host communities, potentially providing annual payments ranging from approximately $4,500 to $8,900 per household, without introducing new taxes or increasing costs for developers [1].
Sam Lyman, head of research at the Bitcoin Policy Institute, emphasized the need for Americans building local infrastructure to benefit from the AI boom, stating, 'It can't just be the developers in Silicon Valley who are becoming wealthy from this revolution. It needs to be the Americans who are building the county infrastructure that makes these data centers possible in the first place' [1].
The proposal comes as opposition to data centers intensifies nationwide. According to a Gallup poll cited in the report, 71% of Americans oppose the construction of an AI data center in their area, compared to 53% who oppose a nearby nuclear plant [1]. The report also notes a sharp increase in local data center moratoriums, rising from 6 in 2024 to 59 last year and 294 last month [1].
The report attributes part of the opposition to a network of groups funded by tech tycoon Neville Roy Singham, who is based in Shanghai and supports the Chinese Communist Party. These groups, including the Party for Socialism and Liberation, the People's Forum, CodePink, and BreakThrough News, have campaigned aggressively against data centers and U.S. technology developments, while elevating China as a technological powerhouse [1]. Rob Joyce, former director of cybersecurity at the National Security Agency, described these campaigns as 'cognitive warfare,' aiming to influence American public opinion in ways that align with Beijing's interests [1].
CONCLUSION
The Bitcoin Policy Institute's 'data center dividends' proposal aims to address widespread public opposition to AI data centers by sharing economic benefits with local communities. With a significant majority of Americans currently opposed to new data centers in their areas, the proposal could influence future policy debates and industry practices.