- C3’s Drew Bond argues that while AI data centers are indispensable to U.S. economic strength, military readiness, and leadership in the global AI race, public resistance is real and cannot be ignored. Rather than asking communities to simply accept large, resource-intensive facilities, he contends that Big Tech must proactively earn public trust by demonstrating clear local value and addressing concerns head-on.
- Bond calls on AI companies to rethink how they approach host communities: prioritize long-term job creation, avoid excessive tax incentives, generate or offset their own energy use, and invest in water stewardship so facilities are net contributors rather than burdens. If companies align national competitiveness with tangible local benefits, he argues, data centers can become engines of shared prosperity instead of flashpoints of opposition.
The views and opinions expressed are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of C3.