Trump's Voluntary Pledge Asks AI Data Centers to Pay Their Own Power Costs

Trump said July 23, 2026 at EPA headquarters that 200 entities — including 23 Republican governors, power companies NextEra and Duke Energy, and big AI firms — signed his voluntary Rateholder Protection Pledge. The White House says they deliver 80% of US power. The pledge asks data centers to pay their own electricity costs but has no penalties if they don't.