Brian Janus, co-founder of Clover Infrastructure, said AI data center developers could reduce local opposition by comparing projects with oilfield development and sharing future profits with communities. According to Sina Finance, he made the remarks at a data center forum hosted by The Information.

Janus said cloud companies and data center developers should let local communities share profits over the next several decades. He cited Alaska oil development as an example, saying oil companies have paid dividends to residents since the 1970s so they can share in North Slope oilfield gains.

He also pointed to cases in Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, where oil-producing countries take a larger share of profits, and said Western oil companies must hand over 80% of profits to host countries. Janus argued that these payments are a necessary cost for stability, not charity.

The article said public resistance to AI data centers has risen sharply in the United States, with opposition tied to higher electricity bills, water use, dust, and noise. It also said at least 550 state and local jurisdictions have issued moratoriums on data center construction, while Amazon has pledged $1 billion over the next five years to communities where its data centers are located.

Other speakers at the forum said data centers could share power with communities, including during hurricanes and earthquakes, and help stabilize public grids.