As AI Backlash Grows, Trump Says Firms Should Pay More for Electricity
President Donald Trump introduced a "ratepayer protection pledge" at the Environmental Protection Agency. This voluntary pledge commits companies to pay for necessary power plants and grid upgrades to support their data centers. Several state governors and energy company executives were present at the event.
President Donald Trump announced a "ratepayer protection pledge" at the Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, D.C., on July 23, 2026. The initiative calls for companies to voluntarily commit to funding the power plants and grid infrastructure upgrades required to operate their data centers.
The event was attended by several key figures, including Drew Marsh, chairman and chief executive of Entergy, and Chris Womack, chief executive of Southern Company, both major energy providers. Also present were Governors Brad Little of Idaho, Jeff Landry of Louisiana, Brian Kemp of Georgia, and Jim Pillen of Nebraska, alongside Secretary of Energy Chris Wright.