A Democratic bill with 2 Republican cosponsors · See all 15 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Data Center Transparency Act requires specific reports regarding the environmental and energy impacts of data centers. The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency must submit reports every three months regarding water consumption, water reuse, effects on local water systems, and greenhouse gas emissions. These reports must be submitted to Congress and made available on a website. Additionally, the Administrator of the Energy Information Administration is tasked with collecting data on total energy consumption by data centers every six months. The Energy Information Administration must then submit reports to Congress and the public regarding energy consumption by State, changes in energy use, and impacts on household energy bills.
Yes· 3 of 11
- Scored +6
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill significantly increases government transparency by mandating public access to data on data center resource consumption.
- Scored +5
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
The bill enhances environmental oversight by requiring reports on water quality, air quality, and greenhouse gas emissions.
- Scored +5
Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices?
The bill improves consumer protection by providing transparency regarding how data center energy and water usage affects household utility bills.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Transparency regarding water and air quality: Under Section 2(a), the EPA will provide reports on water consumption, water reuse, and greenhouse gas emissions, including the cumulative effect on overburdened communities. This provides public information on how data centers affect local water systems and air quality.
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Monitoring of water utility impacts: Section 2(a)(3) requires reporting on the availability of potable water, demand on local water utilities, potential service disruptions, and changes in residential water rates. This helps track how data centers influence local water services.
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Monitoring of energy costs: Section 2(b)(2)(D) requires reports on how household energy bills may have changed, which provides insight into the relationship between data center energy use and household costs.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts are explicitly stated in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Increased transparency regarding water and energy costs can help protect low-income households from unexpected utility rate changes. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — The bill provides data on how household energy bills and water rates may be affected by data center operations. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Rural residents may benefit from more transparency regarding how water and energy resources are utilized by large data centers. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Urban residents may benefit from increased oversight of how data center energy demands impact local utility infrastructure and costs.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill significantly increases government transparency by mandating public access to data on data center resource consumption. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill expands the reporting and data collection mandates of the EPA and EIA.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill enhances environmental oversight by requiring reports on water quality, air quality, and greenhouse gas emissions. Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change? — While the bill does not mandate reductions, the transparency requirements may lead to better environmental management of emissions.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — The bill improves consumer protection by providing transparency regarding how data center energy and water usage affects household utility bills.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more rules on large technology companies? — The bill imposes new reporting requirements on large-scale data center operations.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill tracks the cumulative effect of greenhouse gas emissions on overburdened communities, which aids in monitoring environmental justice.
- 10/15/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/10/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/8/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 8/27/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/20/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/29/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 6/18/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/26/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/12/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/14/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 4/2/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/8/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
André CarsonDemocrat · Indiana
Angie CraigDemocrat · Minnesota
Greg CasarDemocrat · Texas
Sharice DavidsDemocrat · Kansas
Brian FitzpatrickRepublican · Pennsylvania
Adelita GrijalvaDemocrat · Arizona
Jared HuffmanDemocrat · California
Chrissy HoulahanDemocrat · Pennsylvania
John LarsonDemocrat · Connecticut
Michael LawlerRepublican · New York
James McGovernDemocrat · Massachusetts
Gwen MooreDemocrat · Wisconsin
Kelly MorrisonDemocrat · Minnesota
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia
Nydia VelázquezDemocrat · New York