U.S. senators are pressing President Trump to address rising electric bills attributed to AI data center expansions by major tech companies like Meta, OpenAI, Alphabet, and Oracle. In a letter, Senators Bernie Sanders, Richard Blumenthal, Ed Markey, Chris Van Hollen, and Ron Wyden highlighted that these AI infrastructures are significantly driving up costs for households, which are now competing for power access against trillion-dollar corporations. The lawmakers are urging the administration to impose safeguards ensuring companies shoulder the financial burden of these increased costs. Blumenthal emphasized the need for federal protections for consumers rather than halting development. This plea comes amidst local opposition to energy-intensive data centers benefiting from tax incentives while utilities struggle to meet demand. Despite promises to lower energy costs, electric bills have risen by 5.1% year-on-year as the strain on power grids intensifies due to the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure.
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