Key facts
- Donald Trump announced that 200 entities have signed his "Ratepayer Protection Pledge".
- The pledge aims to ensure US consumers do not bear the costs of AI datacenter build-out.
- Signatories include tech giants like Google, Microsoft, Meta, and major utilities such as Nextera and Duke Energy.
- The pledge now covers companies delivering 80% of all power to US homes and businesses.
- The announcement coincides with rising utility prices and bipartisan concerns over datacenters.
Donald Trump announced that approximately 200 entities have signed a voluntary "Ratepayer Protection Pledge," designed to prevent consumers from bearing the costs associated with the expansion of AI datacenters. The pledge, initially signed by seven tech companies including Google, Microsoft, and Amazon, now includes major utilities like Nextera and Duke Energy, as well as datacenter developers and electricity co-operatives.
Speaking at the Environmental Protection Agency headquarters, Trump stated that the pledge covers companies responsible for 80% of the power distributed in the United States and that "electricity rates for 80% of the power distributed in America are now being kept in check by the plan." He claimed that rates have been kept "way down."
The announcement comes as utility prices have risen, with a 4% year-over-year increase in June according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This surge in costs, coupled with concerns about the environmental and social impacts of AI datacenters, has led to a growing backlash. More than a dozen states have considered moratoria on datacenter development, and New York has enacted a temporary ban.
Trump criticized opponents of new development as "radical left communists" seeking to harm industries and jobs, while also surrendering the AI race to China. However, opposition to datacenters has also gained bipartisan traction.
White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers stated the pledge ensures "everyone involved in building and powering data centers covers their own costs instead of passing them on to American families." He added that the action is turning datacenters into "engines of growth for local communities, while cementing America’s dominance in the global AI race."
Environmental groups expressed skepticism. Patrick Drupp of the Sierra Club called the pledge "weak" and "empty promises," demanding real action from companies to lower costs and pay their fair share. Lena Moffitt of Evergreen Action described the announcement as a "photo op with big tech" that will not lower any family's electric bill, criticizing the voluntary nature of the pledge with no consequences for non-compliance.