Protecting American Taxpayers from Big Tech’s Power Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) released the following statement on the Ratepayer Protection Act, which passed the House yesterday, from Joel Thayer, senior fellow for AI and Emerging Technology:

"America should lead the world in technology but American families should not be forced to finance Big Tech’s expansion.

“The principle is simple: if a multibillion-dollar company creates the costs, it should pay the cost. Families, seniors, farmers, and small businesses should not see their electric bills rise due to the expense of these big tech corporations. The Ratepayer Protection Act directs state commissions to establish clear federal standards. It ensures that non-residential facilities provide adequate financial assurances and shoulder 100 percent of the incremental infrastructure costs they create.

“True innovation and national competitiveness do not require corporate welfare at the expense of American ratepayers. We can outcompete global adversaries like Communist China in the AI race while simultaneously protecting the pocketbooks of hardworking citizens.”

The call for clear federal guardrails has never been more urgent. The Senate now has a clear choice: protect American ratepayers or make them pay Big Tech’s bill.