Katie Britt

As backlash against data centers grows, Republicans across the country are signing on to efforts to keep them in check.

While some Democrats, including U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Selma, are calling for a moratorium on development, Republicans have chosen to support a voluntary pledge from companies that expansion will not be paid for by consumers.

U.S. Sen. Katie Britt told AL.com on Wednesday that “data centers are critical to maintaining our economic edge over China.”

She said she wants to make sure, though, that individual Americans do not subsidize the electricity and infrastructure costs required to power data centers.

“I support @POTUS taking steps to protect ratepayers while maintaining our competitive edge over China and ensuring America remains a global leader in technological advancement,” Britt posted on social media Thursday.

President Donald Trump has asked power companies and utilities to sign on to a voluntary Rate Payer Protection Pledge.

Google, Microsoft, Meta, Oracle, xAI, OpenAI and Amazon signed the pledge earlier this year.

Alabama Power, the state’s largest utility, did not respond to a question about whether they had joined the pledge earlier this month. The company has frozen rates through 2027.

Trump remains supportive of data centers overall, and has suggested on social media that they could be “LIQUID GOLD” for states like Alabama.

Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who is running for governor, has similarly been supportive of the projects.

He said earlier this month that he supported projects that could bring revenue to local communities, saying the tax money from data centers would be “unbelievable.”

Former Sen. Doug Jones, who is running against Tuberville, has called for a temporary moratorium on data centers until there are better environmental and local protections.

Congress is considering codifying Trump’s pledge into law with the bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act, sponsored by Rep. Kathy Caston of Florida. There is a companion bill in the Senate.