<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The House of Representatives passed a bipartisan bill that would require data centers to cover the cost of grid and energy upgrades, an effort to shield households from rising energy prices and address concerns among voters about the industry.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">On Wednesday, the House voted 417-3 to pass the Ratepayer Protection Act, which was introduced by Reps. Gabe Evans (R-CO) and Kathy Castor (D-FL).</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The legislation would require state regulators to create standards for new data centers and hyperscalers that consume over 100 megawatts of electricity to cover the costs of new generation, transmission, and infrastructure upgrades.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“This bill does not impose a federal mandate,” Evans said in July. “Instead, it offers a thoughtful federal standard for states to consider as they evaluate how best to integrate large loads.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Although the bill has bipartisan support, some Democrats voted against it, arguing it does not go far enough.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) wrote on X on Tuesday that she would vote against the bill because it “fails to meaningfully protect our communities.” She instead called for a national moratorium on data centers and to enact a data center prohibition on federal lands.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Over the summer, committee ranking member Frank Pallone (D-NJ) also called for a ban on data centers, making him the highest-ranking Democrat to support a nationwide ban on data centers.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Others who have called for a moratorium include Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), who introduced a bill in March to pause new data center development as lawmakers work on regulations for artificial intelligence.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Evans dismissed that approach, arguing that moratoriums push data center buildouts overseas to China and make it more difficult for the United States to compete with Beijing.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“Tell me how that helps us stay course or beat China,” he told the Washington Examiner in an interview.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“Just because something doesn’t get built in the United States doesn’t mean it doesn’t get built at all,” he said.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">A companion bill was introduced by Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH) in July.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The legislation passed by the House is similar to the White House’s ratepayer protection pledge. Through the pledge, tech giants such as Google, Microsoft, and Amazon vowed to secure their own power when constructing data centers.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The administration expanded the pledge in July, when several governors, data center developers, and utilities vowed to prevent households from bearing the cost.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Data centers have faced public opposition across the country due to worries about added electricity costs, strains on water supplies, and contributions to noise pollution. Lawmakers in the House Energy and Commerce Committee also plan to consider legislation to address water used by data centers.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Some Republicans have shifted their stance on data centers ahead of the November midterm elections, despite the Trump administration’s continued push to expand the AI facilities.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">President Donald Trump has argued it is essential for the U.S. to build out data centers to compete with China. The president earlier this week said the U.S. already has guardrails to regulate AI and data center companies, calling the public backlash against the AI facilities a “sick conspiracy.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong><a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/energy-and-environment/4725770/epa-repeal-biden-pollution-rules-fossil-fuel-power-plants/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EPA REPEALS BIDEN POLLUTION RULES FOR FOSSIL FUEL POWER PLANTS</a></strong></p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“The only control or ‘guardrails’ that AI needs is a STRONG AND SMART (High IQ!) PRESIDENT, and the U.S.A. has that, in spades!” he wrote on Truth Social.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Trump said the U.S. has “tremendous CRIMINAL and REGULATORY power” over AI companies, adding that this “SICK conspiracy” against AI and data centers makes China happy.</p>