Key facts
- The House passed legislation requiring states to consider federal standards for large-scale industrial power users.
- The bill aims to ensure data centers and other large-load customers cover the costs of necessary grid upgrades.
- The legislation passed with a vote of 417-3.
- The bill specifically targets facilities operating information technology infrastructure for data storage and computational applications.
The US House of Representatives passed legislation on Wednesday that aims to address voter concerns about rising electricity prices and the rapid growth of data centers. The bill, which passed with a vote of 417-3, would require states to consider adopting federal standards for large-scale industrial power users, including data centers, to ensure they cover the costs of necessary grid upgrades. This is intended to prevent these costs from being passed on to other energy consumers. Representative Gabe Evans, R-Colo., stated that while data center growth is necessary for AI competitiveness, it should not burden Americans with higher electricity bills. The bill specifically targets facilities operating information technology infrastructure for data storage and computational applications.