Trump mandates AI firms cover data center power costs, promotes infrastructure expansion

President Trump announced a policy requiring AI companies to internalize the energy costs of data centers while urging local communities to expedite project approvals. The administration claims over 220 utilities and tech firms have signed a ratepayer pledge, though the enforceability and specific mechanisms of this mandate remain unclear. This shift aims to secure domestic power capacity for AI development while countering alleged foreign disinformation campaigns targeting energy infrastructure.