A $3.26 billion federal loan to American Electric Power's Texas utility will back about 100 transmission projects across Texas, covering roughly 2,800 miles of new and upgraded transmission infrastructure. The financing is being issued through the Office of Energy Dominance Financing under President Donald Trump's executive order, "Unleashing American Energy." U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said, "This investment will modernize Texas' electric grid, support the energy needed for AI, advanced manufacturing, the Permian Basin, and help keep electricity costs down for Texans." Officials said the loan would "save more than one million Texas households and businesses approximately $685 million in electricity costs over the next 30 years." A recent Texas Public Policy Foundation Life:Powered report said annual transmission costs in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas could exceed $12 billion by 2033, after rising from $1.5 billion in 2010 to $5 billion in 2024, and that "the average ERCOT ratepayer paid 57% more in transmission charges in 2024 than in 2010." The loan aims to help prevent outages and manage costs as electricity demand climbs with the growth of AI, data centers, manufacturing, and the oil and gas industry.