Ratepayer Protection Pledge Proclamation
This Presidential Proclamation formally recognizes the Ratepayer Protection Pledge, dated March 4, 2026, which secures commitments from seven leading technology companies (hyperscalers and AI firms) to finance the full cost of new electricity generation resources and power delivery infrastructure required for their expanding data centers.
The core purpose of the action is to safeguard American households from increased electricity costs resulting from the escalating energy demands of data centers and artificial intelligence development, while simultaneously bolstering U.S. economic and technological leadership by ensuring this infrastructure growth occurs domestically.
Arguments For
Ensuring the rapidly expanding data center sector, crucial for economic and national security (including AI), develops domestically using American labor and innovation.
Protecting American households from bearing the financial burden of increased electricity demand driven by hyperscalers and AI growth.
Establishing a framework where technology companies voluntarily fund the necessary new generation resources and infrastructure upgrades required to service their large energy needs.
Promoting grid reliability and resilience through coordination with grid operators and investment in local communities by the committing technology firms.
Arguments Against
Potential creation of a regulatory precedent where specific industries are unilaterally compelled to enter voluntary agreements regarding utility rates and infrastructure funding, bypassing standard regulatory processes.
Challenges in accurately quantifying and allocating the full cost of infrastructure upgrades, potentially leading to contentious negotiations with utilities and State governments.
Risk that voluntary commitment enforcement lacks strong legal recourse compared to formal regulation if companies later alter their commitments or interpretation of 'full cost'.
Possible negative impact on competitive investment if the Pledge places operational or financial burdens on certain hyperscalers or AI companies perceived as higher consumers.
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
America’s continued economic and technological leadership depends on reliable, large-scale data center infrastructure built in the United States. Data center infrastructure is the foundation of the internet, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence (AI), and it supports our economic and national security. In order to harness the full power of American innovation and ensure that Americans do not become reliant on foreign industries, the development of large-scale data center infrastructure and AI must occur here at home, with American workers and engineers leading the way. Our investments in these industries will also employ Americans across a wide array of professions in a shared endeavor that will bolster our Nation’s economic standing for years to come.
The proclamation establishes that maintaining U.S. leadership requires domestically built, dependable, large-scale data center infrastructure.
This infrastructure is foundational to critical technologies such as the internet, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence, directly supporting national economic and security interests.
The text emphasizes that development of data center and AI capabilities must happen within the United States, promoting American jobs and innovation to prevent reliance on foreign sectors.
However, as data centers expand their footprint and electricity demand associated with AI increases, American households must be protected against increasing energy costs. The hyperscalers and AI companies that increase electricity demand must pay for the full cost of the energy and infrastructure needed to build and operate data centers, and must not pass this cost on to the American people. Instead, the data center boom should be leveraged to address affordability and benefit all American households and businesses.
As data centers grow and AI consumes more power, the document expresses concern about shielding residential customers from rising utility bills.
It mandates that the large technology companies (hyperscalers and AI firms) causing this increased electricity demand must cover all associated energy and infrastructure expenses.
This approach aims to ensure the benefits of the technological boom, rather than the associated costs, are passed down to the general public and businesses.
Today, pursuant to the Ratepayer Protection Pledge, leading United States hyperscalers and AI companies guarantee that data centers’ energy needs will not increase household electricity costs for American citizens. Instead, these companies will build, bring, or buy the new generation resources and electricity needed to satisfy their energy demands, and pay for all new power delivery infrastructure upgrades to service their data centers. They will voluntarily negotiate new, separate rate structures with their utilities and relevant State governments, and pay those rates, and for their infrastructure, whether they use the electricity or not. They will also invest in local communities and coordinate with grid operators to contribute to a more reliable grid. These measures will ensure that Americans are protected from higher energy prices, benefit from grid upgrades and increased grid resilience, and benefit from this technological boom while the United States continues its global leadership in innovation and advanced technology.
The proclamation confirms that leading technology companies have accepted the Ratepayer Protection Pledge, committing them to absorbing the costs of new energy generation and necessary power delivery infrastructure upgrades for their data centers.
These companies agree to negotiate separate utility rates and cover infrastructure expenses regardless of their actual electricity usage.
Furthermore, the companies pledge to invest locally and collaborate with grid operators to enhance the reliability of the electric grid, thereby protecting consumers from higher prices while supporting technological advancement.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim as follows:
(1) The Ratepayer Protection Pledge and the commitments embodied therein effectuate the national policy of the United States.
(2) On this day, March 4, 2026, seven leading technology companies have accepted the terms of the Ratepayer Protection Pledge.
Exercising presidential authority granted by the Constitution and U.S. laws, the document formally declares that the Ratepayer Protection Pledge aligns with and implements the national policy of the United States.
It officially notes that seven prominent technology companies formally accepted the terms of this Pledge on the date of the proclamation, March 4, 2026.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourth day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-six, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fiftieth.
DONALD J. TRUMP
This concluding passage serves as the customary attestation block for the proclamation.
It signifies the President's execution of the document on March 4, 2026, which marks the 250th year of American independence.