"This is theater. This is a press release designed to make it seem like they are addressing this issue. But this issue can only really be addressed by utility regulators or Congress. The White House doesn't really have a lot of moves here, and I don't think the tech companies themselves are the most important parties on cost issues."
"Data centers ... they need some PR help. People think that if the data center goes in, their electricity is going to up."
President Trump hosted representatives from major tech companies including Microsoft, Meta, OpenAI, Google, and Amazon at the White House to sign a nonbinding pledge addressing public concerns about data centers increasing electricity costs. The pledge represents the Trump administration's effort to reassure voters that AI infrastructure expansion will not raise their utility bills. However, electricity law experts and industry insiders express skepticism about the pledge's effectiveness, noting that the White House lacks direct regulatory authority over utility costs. Meaningful consumer protections would require action from utility regulators or Congress. Data centers have become a significant political issue, with fewer than 30 percent of American voters supporting data center construction near their homes, and several states considering moratoriums.
Read at WIRED
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