Satya Nadella Sven Hoppe/picture alliance via Getty Images

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella used a conference keynote on Tuesday to defend against one of the biggest challenges to the company's massive AI datacenter buildout: Community backlash.

AI data centers have become such a political flashpoint that more people in a recent Gallup poll said they'd rather live near a nuclear reactor. The data center boom has received criticism over growing power costs, environmental concerns, and the potential impact of AI on jobs.

Microsoft in January released a plan to build what the company called "community-first" AI infrastructure, making promises including that its data centers won't raise electricity rates for residents.

"How do we ensure that the DCs do not increase electricity prices, making sure that we are replenishing all our water use, creating jobs in the local communities for the local residents, adding to the tax base, making sure we're strengthening the communities by investing in local training and the…