Google President and Chief Investment Officer Ruth Porat pledged significant investments in energy generation, infrastructure, and workforce development during a White House event where leading technology companies formally backed President Donald J. Trump’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge. The initiative is designed to ensure that the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence data centers does not lead to higher electricity prices for American households.
Speaking during the meeting, Porat outlined Google’s commitments under the agreement, emphasizing that the company would assume full financial responsibility for the energy demands created by its growing network of data centers. “To protect American ratepayers, we’re committed not only to pay for 100% of the energy we use but, very importantly, the infrastructure to support that growth whether or not we end up using that energy,” Porat said. Her remarks highlighted the central goal of the pledge: ensuring that technology companies cover the costs associated with their electricity consumption rather than passing those expenses on to consumers.
Ruth Porat, President and CIO of Alphabet and @Google: "To protect American ratepayers, we’re committed not only to pay for 100% of the energy we use, but, very importantly, the infrastructure to support that growth, whether or not we end up using that energy." pic.twitter.com/KgATGYKEwP
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 4, 2026
The Ratepayer Protection Pledge, announced by Trump and signed by several major technology firms, requires companies to build, bring, or purchase new energy generation resources and pay for all associated grid upgrades necessary to support their operations. The agreement comes as electricity demand in the United States continues to rise sharply, driven in part by the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence computing infrastructure. Data centers are increasingly seen as essential to economic competitiveness, powering cloud computing services, AI development, and a wide range of digital applications.
Porat said Google’s approach aligns with the administration’s call for companies to directly invest in expanding the nation’s energy capacity. “Consistent with your call to build, bring or buy energy, we will meaningfully invest across America to bring new energy online,” she said, adding that reliable and affordable power is necessary for AI technologies to benefit businesses and households nationwide.
She pointed to ongoing projects as examples of that commitment. In Texas, Porat said Google has already contracted to add more than 7,800 megawatts of new energy generation and capacity to the electric grid as the company expands its data center footprint in the state. The company is also pursuing additional infrastructure projects designed to integrate power generation directly with computing facilities.
Porat noted that Google is preparing to close on the acquisition of Intersect Power, a move intended to accelerate development of new energy resources located alongside data center operations. “That’s going to enable us to build data centers right next to those new power generation capabilities,” she said, describing the approach as a way to deliver what she called “self-sufficient” energy capacity while strengthening local power systems.
The pledge also includes provisions aimed at protecting consumers from energy cost increases. Porat referenced a recent announcement in Arkansas as an example of how those commitments could benefit local ratepayers. During a visit with Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Google confirmed that its investment in the state would cover the full energy costs associated with powering its data center. According to Porat, the arrangement is expected to contribute more than $1 billion back to Arkansas electricity customers, reducing their overall energy costs.
In addition to energy infrastructure, Porat emphasized the economic impact of data center construction and operation. She said each job created within a Google data center typically generates additional employment throughout the surrounding community. “Every one job we create in a Google data center gives rise to an additional nine jobs in the community in which we’re building that data center,” she said. Those positions include high-skilled electrical work as well as jobs in local businesses, schools, and service industries.
Porat also highlighted efforts to improve the resilience of the electric grid as data center capacity expands. She said Google has pioneered demand-response technology that allows computing workloads to be shifted away from affected areas during extreme weather events, freeing electricity capacity for local communities when it is needed most.
Concluding her remarks, Porat thanked the administration for bringing together technology leaders to address the intersection of energy policy and AI development. “The benefits from AI responsibly delivered are immense for America’s businesses, for America’s communities and for its citizens,” she said, adding that Google supports efforts to ensure those benefits are widely shared while protecting consumers from higher electricity costs.
Trump returned praise following Porat’s remarks, thanking her and the participating companies for their commitments under the pledge. “Thank you very much,” the President said. “You’re doing a great job.”
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