Senator Marshall Applauds President Trump for Expanding Ratepayer Protection Pledge

Washington – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) today applauded President Donald J. Trump for expanding the Ratepayer Protection Pledge, a landmark initiative ensuring that the nation’s largest technology companies—not hardworking American families—pay the cost of the electricity and grid infrastructure needed to power new AI data centers. Earlier this year, Senator Marshall joined Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla.) in introducing a Senate concurrent resolution expressing that the Ratepayer Protection Pledge would protect households, small businesses, schools, hospitals, and farms from subsidizing the electricity and grid infrastructure needed for new AI data centers. The resolution also encouraged additional AI companies and data center operators to adopt the pledge—an effort advanced by today’s announcement. “The Ratepayer Protection Pledge Resolution affirms a basic idea: that Kansans shouldn’t have to pay higher utility bills so that big tech companies can power their data centers,” said Senator Marshall. “I’ve heard from Kansans who are concerned that infrastructure costs for data centers could be pushed onto households, small businesses, schools, hospitals, and farms across the state. Kansans work hard for their money, and they should not need to worry that their utility rates will rise thanks to the growth of data centers.” President Trump’s Expanded Ratepayer Protection Pledge: Protects American families from higher utility bills by ensuring the cost of powering new AI data centers is paid by the companies building them—not households, farms, schools, hospitals, or small businesses. Now covers approximately 80% of the electricity delivered to American homes and businesses, following the addition of nearly 200 new utilities, developers, state governments, and other stakeholders. Requires participating companies to negotiate separate rate structures with utilities and state governments and pay for the power generation and grid infrastructure needed to support their data centers, whether they ultimately use that electricity or not. Strengthens grid reliability by encouraging participating companies to coordinate with grid operators and make backup generation resources available during emergencies to help prevent blackouts and power shortages. Creates jobs and invests in local communities by encouraging AI companies and hyperscalers to hire and train workers where they build and operate data centers. Supports America’s AI leadership by enabling the rapid buildout of the infrastructure needed to compete with China while ensuring the costs of that expansion are not shifted onto American consumers. Advances President Trump’s America First energy agenda by expanding domestic energy infrastructure, promoting private-sector investment, protecting ratepayers, and keeping electricity affordable for hardworking American families. ### Contact: Payton Fuller