Data centers are more than big computer rooms; they are the physical backbone of artificial intelligence, cloud services, and many defense‑related technologies. Goldman Sachs estimates that U.S. AI‑related investment will be close to $600 billion in 2026. At the same time, the world’s supply of high‑voltage transformers is limited, with China producing about 60 % of the global capacity, creating a strategic vulnerability for expanding U.S. data‑center power needs.

If the United States cannot build enough power‑ready data centers, AI projects may shift to countries with faster permitting, cheaper electricity, or more predictable policies. That shift would not only cost American jobs and tax revenue, but also push up electricity rates for consumers like Gary Elder, a 69‑year‑old retiree who worries a nearby 500‑megawatt data center could raise his monthly bill toward $1,000.

Recognizing the risk, seven major tech firms—Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, Oracle and xAI—signed the White House’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge, promising to cover the power and infrastructure costs of their data centers instead of passing them onto households.