xAI Commits to 1.2GW Power Development Under White House Energy Pledge

Under President Donald Trump’s leadership, America’s leading AI and technology companies signed the Ratepayer Protection Pledge at the White House, according to an announcement on the White House website. The pledge ensures that the growth of AI data centers will not increase electricity costs for U.S. households. Companies including Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, Oracle, and xAI agreed to cover the costs of new power generation needed to support their facilities.

As part of the initiative, SpaceX President and COO Gwynne Shotwell confirmed that xAI will develop 1.2 gigawatts of power to support its AI supercomputer near Memphis, Tennessee. The installation will provide sufficient backup capacity to power the city of Memphis and the nearby town of Southaven, Mississippi. xAI also plans to build new substations and invest in grid infrastructure to improve regional stability.

The Ratepayer Protection Pledge was created to address rising energy demands from AI infrastructure while maintaining affordability for residential consumers. Shotwell said xAI will also construct water recycling plants capable of protecting billions of gallons from the local aquifer each year, while employing thousands of workers from the Memphis area.

Other signatories, including Amazon Web Services, Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Oracle, expressed their support for the pledge, emphasizing commitments to fund their own energy needs and collaborate with utilities to strengthen the U.S. electrical grid.