President Trump Urges Big Tech to Develop Their Own Power Plants to Support Data Centers Across the US

US President Donald Trump has directed major data center operators and technology companies to build their own power generation infrastructure to supply their facilities. Speaking during his annual State of the Union address, Trump argued that the move is necessary to prevent consumers from bearing higher electricity costs.

"Tonight, I'm pleased to announce that I have negotiated the new ratepayer protection pledge. You know what that is? We're telling the major tech companies that they have the obligation to provide for their own power needs," he said.

"We have an old grid. It could never handle the kind of numbers, the amount of electricity that's needed. So I'm telling them, they can build their own plant. They're going to produce their own electricity. It will ensure the company's ability to get electricity, while at the same time, lowering prices of electricity for you," the President added.

Since the beginning of the year, the President has become increasingly outspoken about the risk of rising electricity bills tied to the rapid expansion of data centers nationwide. Last month, he said the administration had been in active talks with data center operators to ensure households would not face higher power costs as a result of the AI buildout, with Microsoft reportedly the first to agree to such an arrangement.