Two days after voters rejected measures favoring the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence in the United States’ midterm elections, OpenAI pledged to cover the full cost of electricity for the data centers it owns and operates. The company will also publish construction plans for those sites, seek input from local communities, and avoid non-disclosure agreements with public officials. Its “Grid Protectors Program,” introduced in November 2026, calls for reducing peak demand by up to 1 GW, equivalent to the power consumption of approximately 700,000 households. Georgia Power forecasts approximately $950 million in annual customer savings starting in 2029, with the model already applied to OpenAI’s Project Camellia campus in Georgia. These commitments apply only to facilities owned and operated by OpenAI and may not be sufficient on their own to reverse voter opposition expressed in nearly all 41 statewide contests.
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