President Donald Trump announced on July 23, 2026, that 23 Republican governors have joined a voluntary initiative aimed at protecting American consumers from rising electricity bills caused by artificial intelligence data centers.
The announcement was made at the Environmental Protection Agency headquarters.
The agreement, known as the Ratepayer Protection Pledge, now includes nearly 200 stakeholders, such as utility providers, data center developers, and state executives.
White House officials say the coalition covers 80 percent of all power delivered to U. S.
households and businesses.
The pledge was initially established in March with seven major technology firms: Google, Microsoft, Meta, Oracle, xAI, OpenAI, and Amazon.
It ensures that companies cover their own energy infrastructure costs rather than passing them on to taxpayers.
While nonbinding, the pledge includes an addendum committing signers to implement its principles to the greatest extent possible within their positions.
The administration aims to address growing voter concern over affordability as U. S.
electricity costs have risen about 4 percent from last year, with overall energy expenses up 16 percent.
Trump urged officials to highlight the economic potential of localized technology facilities.
"You have to convince your community," he said.
"You can't fight it. You have to go with it," Trump added.
He further emphasized that municipal leadership should capture local investments rather than allowing competing regions to secure them.
"If you don't take all that money, somebody else is going to take it. You might as well do it yourselves," Trump said.
Regarding power supplies, the administration projected that private energy generation efforts by data developers would generate excess capacity for local communities.
"Electricity bills for American families will actually come down," Trump said.
He added that surplus energy produced by facilities would be redirected back into regional power grids.
"They're going to have a lot of electricity left over, and they'll put that into the grid," he said.
In a social media statement prior to the event, Trump referenced local economic outcomes and commented on opposition measures taken in northeastern states, calling them a "terrible decision."
White House representatives framed the expanded commitment as a dual strategy for domestic economic health and global technological competitiveness.
"President Trump is expanding the Ratepayer Protection Pledge to governors, legislators, developers, and power providers to ensure everyone involved in building and powering data centers covers their own costs instead of passing them on to American families," said White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers.
She stressed the administration's intention to leverage the infrastructure expansion for national innovation.
"The President's bold action is turning data centers into engines of growth for local communities, while cementing America's dominance in the global AI race," Rogers said.
Despite the pledge, regional and political opposition to data centers has mounted across multiple states, where critics cite environmental impact, land use, and potential price hikes.
Projections by technology consulting firm ICF indicate that surging electricity demand could drive monthly consumer utility bills up by 15% to 40% by 2030.
"They are owned by the richest men in the world," said Gina Hinojosa, Democratic nominee for Texas governor.
Hinojosa criticized the current regulatory environment surrounding rapid site construction.
"We're all footing the bill. There are no rules.
It is the Wild West of data centers," she said.
Consumer advocacy organizations also raised concerns regarding industry lobbying at the state level.
"It is disappointing, but perhaps not surprising, that the same tech companies signing the Ratepayer Protection Pledge are simultaneously opposing efforts at the state level to force them to deliver on their promises," said Matthew Freedman, staff attorney for the Utility Reform Network.
State responses vary widely across the country.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul issued an executive order placing a one-year moratorium on large server warehouse construction.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis enacted legislation prohibiting utilities from transferring data center energy expenses to residential customers.
Meanwhile, dozens of state legislatures and utility commissions continue reviewing mandates requiring data centers to fund their own power infrastructure.
