Bill introduced by Husted that would require data-center-class power users to fund their own generation and grid upgrades.
The Senate voted 57-43 to advance the Ratepayer Protection Act, three votes short of the 60 needed on a procedural vote. Even passage would leave state regulators free to decline the cost standard for large data centers.
Reality
Senate Democrats blocked Jon Husted's Ratepayer Protection Act 57-43, three votes short of the 60 it needed. Democrats want a mandate that makes large data centers pay for their grid upgrades, so for now no federal rule says who covers those costs.
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H.R. 9340 would have utilities recover the full incremental cost of new grid capacity from customers drawing 100 MW at one site, and it asks state commissions only to consider the standard. The Senate has not moved a data center bill.
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A bipartisan bill that could reach the House floor this week would let states make data centers above 100 megawatts fund their own grid, and each state would decide whether to use that authority.
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The Ratepayer Protection Act would let state regulators require AI data centers drawing 100 megawatts or more to pay for their own generation and transmission. Both of its sponsors are defending toss-up seats.
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Chuck Schumer wants a classified all-senators briefing on AI regulation and Speaker Mike Johnson wants a sit-down with AI executives, but the only AI-adjacent bill with floor time this week is about who pays for grid upgrades.
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Democrats asked the Speaker to cancel the House recess over AI risk. He said he would reconvene only if a viable solution was available, and the bill he is actually moving prices data-center electricity.
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A private Republican memo blames data-center backlash for Jon Husted's trouble in Ohio. The warning inside it is about approvals everywhere, which makes it a cost line, not a talking point.
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