Microsoft to Make Changes to Curb Data Center Power Cost for Americans
President Donald Trump stated in a social media post that Microsoft will reveal adjustments to guarantee that Americans will not experience increasing utility costs as the company constructs additional data centers to cater to growing artificial intelligence needs.
“I don’t want Americans to see increased Electricity bills due to Data Centers,” Trump stated on Truth Social. "My Administration is collaborating with leading American Technology Companies to ensure their commitment to the American People, and we will have significant announcements in the weeks ahead."
Before this year's midterm elections, President Trump is seeking methods to reduce prices for consumers, as the impact of tariffs he enacted last year on imported goods continues to affect the economy. In December, Trump revealed a $1,776 "warrior dividend" for American troops. Earlier this month, he called for the acquisition of $200 billion in mortgage bonds to aim at lowering mortgage rates.
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Simultaneously, the largest tech firms are quickly building energy-demanding data centers and informing Wall Street that they will be increasing their capital investments as the AI surge persists. Meta revealed partnerships with three nuclear energy firms for a data center located in Ohio last week.
Trump praised Microsoft for its initiatives to manage pricing, implying that other firms will follow suit.
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"Microsoft is the first on the list, and my team has collaborated with them. They will implement significant changes starting this week to guarantee that Americans won’t 'foot the bill' for their POWER usage by facing increased Utility costs," Trump stated on Monday.
In August, utilities billed U.S. consumers 6 percent more for electricity compared to the same month last year, including states with numerous data centers.
Microsoft is closely monitoring how its data centers affect nearby residents.
“I want you to understand that we are doing all we can, and I believe we are effectively managing this matter so that you won’t have to incur higher electricity costs due to our presence,” said Brad Smith, the company's president and vice chair, at a town hall meeting in Wisconsin in September, where Microsoft is constructing an AI data center.
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Although Microsoft is progressing with some projects, the company has abandoned plans for a data center in Caledonia, Wisconsin, due to significant opposition to its activities in that area. The project was planned to be situated 20 miles from a data center in the town of Mount Pleasant.