President Trump hosts signing as tech companies pledge to cover power for AI data centers to protect ratepayers

President Donald J. Trump onstage at a White House ceremony announced a new "ratepayer protection" pledge and welcomed chief executives from major technology companies who agreed to cover the electricity needs of proposed AI data centers rather than pass those costs to local residents.

Trump framed the initiative as both an economic and national-security priority, saying the pledge grows U.S. energy capacity while preventing household bills from rising. "Under this ratepayer protection pledge…First, these companies are committing to provide or pay for all power generation and electricity needed for their AI projects," he said, outlining the central commitment.

The pledge lays out five core commitments, according to the President and administration officials: companies will (1) provide or pay for the generation needed for their AI projects, including building new plants where appropriate; (2) fund upgrades to existing delivery infrastructure; (3) negotiate distinct rate structures that assign the cost of new capacity to those projects and commit to pay even if they do not use all of that energy; (4) invest in workforce development and local hiring; and (5) make infrastructure available to contribute backup power to local grids during emergencies.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who the President introduced before the signings, described the effort as a public-private partnership intended to let the United States "lead in AI" without shifting costs to households. "We have to lead in AI. We have to lead. This is a transformative technology," Wright said, urging faster permitting and cooperation with industry to build capacity.

Executives at the event provided company-specific commitments. Google’s Ruth Porat said Google is contracting to add "more than 7,800 megawatts of net new energy generation" in Texas as it expands data center capacity and that the company will pay for associated energy and infrastructure costs. A Meta representative announced a four-week fiber-technician pilot in Ohio that guarantees graduates a job with Meta and said Meta will sign the pledge and cover energy costs in its projects.

An executive speaking for XAI said the company will "commit to develop 1.2 gigawatts of power" per additional data center and will build substations and water-recycling infrastructure, estimating about "4.7 billion gallons" of water protection for the Memphis aquifer annually from its planned measures. XAI’s remarks also mentioned exploratory plans for orbital data centers to reduce on-Earth load.

Administration officials and Congress members on hand emphasized job creation in construction and skilled trades tied to the energy and data-center buildout. Lawmakers present said the arrangement would bring local investments and high-skilled work to communities that host new facilities.

Organizers said CEOs and industry representatives present would sign the ratepayer protection pledge after the public remarks. The administration presented the initiative as a way to expand U.S. AI capacity while protecting consumers from higher electricity bills; no formal regulatory changes or statutory authority were enacted at the event.

Next steps described at the ceremony include expedited permitting promises by administration officials and company commitments to negotiate rate structures with utilities. Officials and executives said they expect projects and related workforce programs to roll out in the months ahead; the event closed with an announcement that pledge copies would be signed by participating CEOs.