Amid Congress and White House AI face-off, House Democrat rolls out proposal to rein in data centers

Data center growth is drawing increased attention as lawmakers respond to concerns about rising energy costs and debate who should pay for the power infrastructure behind AI. This POLITICO Pro analysis examines a new proposal from Rep. Suhas Subramanyam and the uncertain path for federal action.

What you’ll learn

• What the Data Center Fair Share Act would require of facilities with electricity demand of 100 megawatts or more
• How the bill would assign costs for power generation and grid upgrades, including when a customer cancels an agreement or stops buying electricity
• How the proposal fits into federal and state efforts to address data center growth and energy costs
• What could shape the next steps for this bill and other proposals in Congress

Why this matters

As data center expansion raises questions about electricity costs, lawmakers are weighing whether operators should cover the infrastructure costs tied to their energy use. The proposal’s prospects remain uncertain, with no co-sponsors and limited time for Congress to act this year.

Understanding the debate can help policy teams track potential changes for ratepayers, utilities, data center operators and host communities.

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