The House Found the One AI Bill It Can Pass Before the Election: Asking States to Think About Making Data Centers Pay Their Own Power Bill
About This Episode
CNBC reported Tuesday the House could vote as early as that night on the bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act, under a fast-track that needs two-thirds. The bill tells state regulators to consider a standard making data centers of 100 megawatts or more pay the full cost of the generation and transmission built to serve them; states must hold a hearing within two years but are not required to adopt anything. It comes the day after the President called opposition to data centers a 'sick conspiracy', seven weeks before an election in which polls show most voters oppose data centers near them, with the Senate leader unable to promise a vote.
Our Take
Seven weeks before an election, Congress found the one AI bill both parties can pass: a request that states think about making data centers pay their own way. The vote measures how hot the electric bill has become and how little Washington can actually force, while the President calls the backlash a conspiracy and the utilities call it a misunderstanding.
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