Why It Matters

Data centers powering artificial intelligence are consuming electricity at unprecedented rates, threatening to strain electrical grids and drain water supplies while driving up consumer electricity bills. First Global Technology is entering a crowded policy battle where Congress must balance fostering U.S. technological competitiveness against China with managing massive energy and environmental costs.

The company’s lobbying strategy targets both opportunity and risk. Bills like the CREATE AI Act and Liquid Cooling for AI Act could funnel federal funding toward data center infrastructure. But First Global faces a tightening regulatory squeeze: rising electricity prices are sparking bipartisan anger, water consumption threatens local opposition, and Congress is increasingly scrutinizing whether tech companies should bear infrastructure costs.

By the Numbers

First Global Technology filed its inaugural fourth quarter 2025 disclosure with $50,000 in spending to Checkmate Government Relations LLC. The firm deployed four registered lobbyists. Muhammad Usman Rahim brings congressional experience as a staff assistant to Sen. Thom Tillis. I. Nelson Freeman holds relevant industry background, having represented energy storage firm ESS Tech Inc. and data center user Core Scientific Inc.

The Agenda

First Global Technology’s timing coincides as Congress debates how to power America’s AI boom while managing its massive energy footprint. Key legislation includes the CREATE AI Act of 2025 (H.R.2385), which would expand access to computing resources, and the Liquid Cooling for AI Act of 2025 (H.R.5332), directing government assessment of advanced cooling systems.

Congressional hearings reveal the policy tension shaping First Global’s agenda. A Senate Commerce Committee hearing emphasized computing infrastructure investment to compete with China, while a House Science Subcommittee focused on using advanced nuclear reactors for data center power. Meanwhile, a House Oversight hearing explored economic and environmental costs, including electricity and water usage.

The company competes against established players like Microsoft Corp., which lobbies heavily on AI policy, and CoreWeave Inc., a specialized AI infrastructure company.

Broader Context

Data centers are projected to consume 6.7 percent to 12 percent of U.S. electricity by 2028—up from 4.4 percent in 2023. This surge is already straining electrical grids and driving electricity costs higher. Residential rates in data center hotspots have jumped as much as 267 percent over five years. Water consumption poses an equally acute problem, with AI data centers potentially requiring 731 billion to over 1 trillion liters of water annually by 2030.

Members of Congress are increasingly divided on who bears these costs. The Trump administration and northeastern governors recently pressed grid operators to make tech giants pay for surging electricity expenses. Meanwhile, Senators Bernie Sanders and Richard Blumenthal blamed data centers for rising electricity prices, and Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene criticized massive water usage.

Between The Lines

Member sentiment is fractured along opportunity-versus-risk lines. Senator Dave McCormick (R-PA) announced $90 billion in investments for AI data centers, while Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) outlined a vision for reinventing data centers. However, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez advocated for studying their impact on electric bills.

Competitive Landscape

First Global Technology enters a crowded lobbying space dominated by tech giants and specialized infrastructure firms. Microsoft Corp. is a dominant force, lobbying heavily on AI policy and technology procurement. Other notable players include The Liquid Cooling Coalition, highlighting growing industry focus on advanced cooling solutions, and Wiz Inc., a cloud security firm lobbying on AI infrastructure protection.

The Bottom Line

First Global Technology arrives as bipartisan support builds for infrastructure-enabling legislation, but faces mounting headwinds over environmental and consumer cost concerns. Success will depend on navigating a dual political landscape: advancing infrastructure development while addressing escalating environmental and consumer cost concerns. The Unleashing Low-Cost Rural AI Act signals legislative momentum on environmental reviews—a potential permitting challenge for new projects.

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