Washington, D.C. – Reports indicate that in tonight’s State of the Union address, President Trump will announce a “rate payer protection pledge” from Big Tech companies aimed at mitigating data centers’ huge impact on skyrocketing electricity prices throughout the country.

In response, Food & Water Watch’s managing director of policy and litigation, Mitch Jones, issued the following statement:

“Let’s be honest: Big Tech isn’t going to do anything for the benefit of anyone but itself. And with the Trump administration’s complete unwillingness to hold corporations accountable for any number of harmful impacts on society, it’s imperative we halt new data center construction now. We must take the time to truly study the full range of impacts of data centers on our local communities – most certainly including the skyrocketing electricity rates already being thrust on families and small businesses – before determining not how, but if this industry can operate in a responsible way.

“This is a big “if,” and right now no one – literally no one – knows if it is possible. Any elected official who is listening to their constituents in these communities should recognize Trump’s claims for what they are: nonsense. We say enough is enough.”

Energy demand from data centers in the U.S. is expected to increase up to threefold from 2023 to 2028. Earlier analysis from Food & Water Watch found that by 2028, AI-driven data centers could consume:

• 720 billion gallons of water annually simply to cool the facilities — equal to more than 1 million Olympic-size swimming pools, or enough water to meet the indoor needs of 18.5 million American households.
• 300 terawatt-hours (TWh) of energy annually — enough electricity to power over 28 million American households.

In a letter sent to Congress in December, more than 230 national, state and local organizations from across the country called for a full nationwide moratorium on the approval and construction of new data centers. The letter cites massive and unsustainable consumption by data centers of energy and water resources, and skyrocking utility costs for families and small businesses. The letter was organized by Food & Water Watch.