US Senate rejects bill targeting AI data centre electricity costs
Summary
The US Senate voted 57 to 43 against a bill that would ask states to consider making big electricity users like data centres pay for the power grid costs they cause. The bill had passed the House easily but lacked enough support in the Senate to overcome a filibuster, a Senate rule that blocks some bills unless 60 votes agree.Key Facts
- The bill aimed to make data centres, which use a lot of electricity, responsible for some infrastructure upgrade costs.
- Only four Democrats joined Republicans to support the bill in the Senate.
- The bill needed 60 votes to pass but got 57, so it failed.
- The measure had passed the House with a vote of 417 to 3.
- Data centres support artificial intelligence and are increasing in number, with about 5,400 in the US.
- Critics say the bill does not force data centres to pay enough and only suggests states “consider” rate changes.
- Senate Democrats want stronger laws to protect consumers from higher electricity bills caused by data centres.
- Virginia and Texas have the most data centres, with California, Ohio, and New York also hosting many facilities.
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