Trump touts Ratepayer Protection Pledge as tech companies agree to cover AI data center power costs
President Donald Trump announced the widespread adoption of his Ratepayer Protection Pledge, an initiative requiring major tech companies and data center operators to cover the full cost of new energy infrastructure for AI data centers. This plan aims to shield American families from higher electricity bills. Governors from Louisiana and Georgia, along with Meta, have expressed support for the pledge, with Meta specifically detailing its commitment for a project in Richland Parish, Louisiana.
President Donald Trump held a White House event on Thursday to highlight the widespread adoption of his administration's "Ratepayer Protection Pledge." He asserted that the voluntary initiative is successfully protecting American households from rising electricity bills, which are being increasingly impacted by the growing power demands of artificial intelligence (AI) data centers across the nation.
The pledge, introduced several months prior, mandates that major technology companies and data center operators bear the full expense of the new energy infrastructure required for their operations, rather than passing these costs onto residential electricity consumers. Trump stated that over 220 entities, including utilities, tech firms, and state governments, have committed to the pledge, collectively covering 80% of the United States' distributed power.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry and Georgia Governor Brian Kemp were present, lending their support to the initiative. Governor Landry underscored the importance of U.S. leadership in AI development while ensuring that this progress does not burden American families financially. Governor Kemp noted positive outcomes in Georgia, where increased power generation has coincided with reduced rates for customers.
Dina Powell McCormick, President of Meta, also spoke, detailing Meta's commitment to fully fund the grid connection infrastructure for its data center project in Richland Parish, Louisiana, citing $1.6 billion in local contracts. Trump framed the pledge as a market-driven solution allowing AI expansion while preventing rate spikes.