U.S. Tech Giants Sign White House Pledge to Bear AI Data Center Power Costs Themselves

Odaily News According to an announcement made by U.S. President Trump at a White House roundtable meeting, Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, Oracle, and xAI have signed a non-binding agreement called the "Ratepayer Protection Pledge." The companies have committed to "build, bring, or buy" the electricity required for their data centers themselves, without passing the costs on to consumers.

Trump stated that data centers "need some PR help," as the public is concerned that their construction will drive up electricity prices, but he claimed this will not happen. A report released by the Harvard Kennedy School in February pointed out that the power demand from AI data centers in some regions has already exceeded existing supply capacity. It is projected that by 2028, data center electricity consumption could account for 12% of total U.S. electricity usage. Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration shows a 6% increase in residential electricity prices in 2025, with further increases expected through 2027 and 2028.

The pledge requires companies to pay for all new power infrastructure needed for their data centers, including paying the associated rates regardless of usage. It also commits them to local hiring, providing skills training, and making backup generators available to the grid. The pledge was announced ahead of the November midterm elections, and it remains unclear how the White House will ensure companies fulfill their commitments.