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Jul 14, 2026

Trump Unveils Historic Plan to Prevent Data Centers From Raising Electric Rates

As artificial intelligence becomes more integrated into daily life, the United States will need an increasing number of AI data centers to power the systems.

But there’s a problem with that: The data centers require an enormous amount of electricity—and water—to power and cool.
That has led to a growing opposition movement against the centers, as local communities and even entire states move to block their construction to prevent the centers from driving up utility costs for consumers.

On Thursday, President Donald Trump and his administration introduced a plan to keep AI centers from raising local utility rates while also emphasizing the need to keep building the centers to keep the U.S. atop the AI development race against countries like China.

Trump announced an expansion of his administration’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge, declaring that artificial intelligence companies and other major technology firms will be responsible for funding the power infrastructure needed to support new data centers rather than passing those costs on to American consumers.

Speaking at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Trump said the administration is “insisting that AI data centers and big tech companies pay their own way” as electricity demand continues to rise alongside the rapid expansion of the AI industry, reports said.
Before Trump made his remarks, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president is expanding the pledge to ensure “the American people are never left footing the bill so private companies can benefit.”

Trump said artificial intelligence companies will be required to build and finance the power plants and other energy infrastructure needed to operate their data centers, arguing that the policy will strengthen the nation’s electric grid while shielding American households from higher utility bills.

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