WATCH: Trump hosts AI leaders to sign pledge that households won't bear utility bill increases [View all]
Last edited Wed Mar 4, 2026, 07:42 PM - Edit history (1)
Source: PBS News/AP
Mar 4, 2026 4:50 PM EST
WASHINGTON (AP) � President Donald Trump invited technology companies to the White House on Wednesday to commit to developing their own power generation as he tries to ease tensions over the cost of electricity used by data centers to develop artificial intelligence.
"They need some PR help because people think that if a data center goes in there, electricity prices are going to go up," Trump said. "It's not going to happen."
The "ratepayer protection" pledge touted by the president comes as affordability has become a top concern for an American public wary of the possibility that the AI buildout could lead to higher utility bills. Trump first announced the pledge during his State of the Union address last month, but provided few details
Communities across the nation have seen a backlash against data centers over fears about rising electricity prices and concerns about pollution and water consumption. Opposition to rising power prices was also a key factor in Democratic wins last year in elections in states including Georgia, Virginia and New Jersey.
Read more: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-trump-hosts-ai-leaders-to-sign-pledge-that-households-wont-bear-utility-bill-increases
= new reply since forum marked as read