Schiff Proposes Bill Requiring Data Centers to Pay for Own Power

A Senate Democrat is proposing a bill that would require large data centers to secure their own power in a bid to reduce energy costs.

Dubbed the Energy Cost Fairness and Reliability Act, Sen. Adam Schiff‘s (D-Calif.) bill is the latest effort in Congress to tackle energy affordability as Americans decry high electricity costs and power-hungry artificial intelligence data centers.

The bill requires data centers that are over 50 megawatts to bring their own power, a common call among Democrats and Republicans amid national pushback against data centers. President Donald Trump received pledges in March from large technology companies that they would secure their own electricity for data centers and pay for grid upgrades.

A spokesperson in Schiff’s office said the bill intends to enforce the pledge through a law change. The bill doesn’t have any GOP co-sponsors, though a spokesperson said they’re having conversations with other lawmakers to drum up support for the proposal.

“Artificial intelligence is already deeply impacting our society, economy, and national security, and it is critical that we maintain our international leadership—however that growth cannot come at the cost of consumers or society,” Schiff said in a statement.

Data centers must pay for the grid upgrades they require and can’t siphon power from existing power plants, according to the bill. It also directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to update its rules related to transmission lines — which transport electricity — to allow data centers to reduce demand during peak energy hours.

Energy affordability is shaping up as a major topic in the November midterm elections as Democrats use sky-rocketing energy bills in their pleas to voters.