Costs of data centers will be paid by corporations, not American consumers: Trump
Former President Donald Trump announced the Ratepayer Protection Pledge, stating that corporations, not consumers, should bear the cost of electricity infrastructure for data centers and AI. This initiative aims to have major tech companies fund or build their own energy solutions to meet their growing demands on the grid.
Former President Donald Trump, speaking at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) headquarters, introduced the "Ratepayer Protection Pledge." He emphasized that the escalating demand for electricity driven by data centers and artificial intelligence should be funded by the corporations utilizing these technologies, rather than by American consumers.
Under this pledge, major U.S. technology companies have formally committed to financing or constructing the energy infrastructure necessary to meet their demands on the national power grid. Trump highlighted that this plan allows these companies to build their own power plants, noting expedited approval processes for such projects, facilitated by individuals like Lee Zeldin.
Beyond data centers, Trump also discussed broader economic growth, including an increase in manufacturing and automotive plant construction across the United States. He cited Toyota's relocation of operations from Mexico to the U.S. and predicted a significant increase in the domestic semiconductor chip market share.