Lawmakers target Meta, OpenAI, Alphabet, Oracle over AI-driven power costs
Senators press the White House to act as data centers tied to AI surge strain US energy systems
Key Takeaways
- US senators accuse tech giants of contributing to rising energy bills via AI data center expansion
- Lawmakers urge the White House to impose safeguards and shift costs onto corporations
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A group of US lawmakers is pressing the White House over rising electric bills linked to AI infrastructure built by tech giants like Meta, OpenAI, Alphabet, and Oracle, according to a Wall Street Journal report.
In a letter sent Monday, Senators Bernie Sanders, Richard Blumenthal, Ed Markey, Chris Van Hollen, and Ron Wyden warned that AI data centers are driving up electricity costs across the country, with some households now competing with trillion-dollar firms for power access.
The senators demanded details from the Trump administration on how it plans to manage the price impact and ensure corporations bear the brunt of the costs.
Blumenthal said the goal isn’t to stop the buildout but to implement federal safeguards to protect consumers. The letter follows a growing wave of local opposition to energy-hungry data centers receiving tax breaks while utilities struggle to keep up.
Despite Trump’s pledge to lower energy costs, electric bills rose 5.1% year-on-year in September. Analysts say AI infrastructure is adding pressure to already strained grids, as firms accelerate buildouts powered by fossil fuels and even construct their own energy sources to bypass delays.
