Trump Praises Governors for Supporting Ratepayer Protection Pledge
President Donald Trump recently shared that 23 governors have signed on to expand the Ratepayer Protection Pledge, an initiative aimed at shielding American families from the soaring costs associated with data centers that fuel the rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) across the nation.
During an event at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Washington, D.C., Trump addressed the local opposition to data centers, emphasizing the expanding coalition that now includes four state governors. It’s worth noting that all of these governors belong to the Republican Party.
“This groundbreaking plan means that America’s largest tech companies are now officially committed to funding or building the energy infrastructure necessary to meet their demands on the electrical grid. They will be responsible for covering these energy requirements and we’re giving them the ability to establish their own power plants,” Trump stated at the EPA event.
He continued, “The demand for electricity due to data centers and AI is increasing exponentially. It’s only right that the corporations cover the costs for the new infrastructure needed, rather than placing that burden on everyday Americans.”
Since its introduction in March, the pledge has gained traction among approximately 200 stakeholders, including major utilities and data center developers. These participants agree to shield American consumers from rising costs linked to energy and infrastructure for data centers while working to reduce long-term electricity prices.
Trump urged communities to be proactive about embracing data centers, asserting, “You can’t oppose it; you have to adapt. You’ll reap financial benefits, reduce taxes, and ultimately, if you don’t engage with it, others will.”
He added, “They are effectively going to be building your electric plants; you’re essentially becoming a utility.”
Trump also mentioned that rates would decline as companies produce more electricity that can be channeled back into the grid.
Prior to Trump’s comments, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt explained that this expanded pledge is designed to ensure that the American public is never left to cover costs so that private companies can profit.
Initially introduced in March, the Ratepayer Protection Pledge quickly garnered support from tech giants like Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Meta, OpenAI, Oracle, and xAI, all of whom committed to financial responsibilities for grid enhancements and the energy needs of their AI data centers.
