Donald Trump says about 200 companies, utilities and state leaders have joined a voluntary “Ratepayer Protection Pledge” intended to stop households bearing the costs of expanding AI datacentres. The announcement matters because fast-growing electricity demand from AI infrastructure has intensified concern over rising energy bills and the environmental effects of datacentre construction.

The pledge began in March with seven technology companies, including Google, Microsoft, Meta, OpenAI and Amazon; Trump says it now covers providers responsible for 80% of US electricity distribution and has support from 23 Republican governors. Utility prices rose 4% year-on-year in June, while opposition to datacentres has crossed party lines: New York introduced a temporary ban this month and Texas governor Greg Abbott has called for restrictions in rural areas. Environmental groups criticised the pledge as non-binding and said signatories had not shown how they would reduce customers’ costs.