Lauren Underwood (D-IL)
Data Center Water and Energy Transparency Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
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 Water and Energy Transparency Act of 2026 requires data center operators to report on their energy and water consumption. Operators with data centers having a peak demand of at least 25 megawatts must submit annual reports to their State or to federal officials. These reports must include monthly energy and water use, the sources of those resources, and efficiency effectiveness metrics. Additionally, individuals planning to build or expand such data centers must submit projected usage and efficiency proposals. States may establish their own collection programs, but if they do not, reports must go to the Administrator of the EPA and the Secretaries of Energy and Agriculture. The federal government will then use this information to create annual public reports regarding regional impacts and best practices.
Yes· 3 of 6
- Scored +6
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill mandates public reporting on data center resource consumption and its regional impacts.
- Scored +5
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
The bill increases transparency and provides best practices to mitigate the environmental impacts of data center energy and water consumption.
- Scored +3
Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices?
The bill requires transparency regarding how data center energy and water use impacts consumer rates.
The opposite
- Scored -1
Is this likely to grow the economy?
The bill imposes new reporting mandates and potential fines on data center operators, which may increase operational costs.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Transparency for Communities: Local governments can request access to reports regarding data center energy and water use, allowing them to understand the impact on their specific areas (Section 3(a)(3) and 3(b)(3)).
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Information on Consumer Impacts: The federal government will produce an annual public report that describes the regional impacts of data centers on water and electricity rates for consumers and communities (Section 3(c)(2)(A)(ii)).
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Insight into Environmental Risks: The public report will include information on environmental impacts, specifically regarding the supply, quality, and reliability of water and energy sources for consumers and communities (Section 3(c)(2)(A)(iii)).
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Guidance for Efficiency: The annual public report will include recommendations for best practices to limit the environmental and community impacts of data centers (Section 3(c)(2)(A)(iv)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Financial Burden on Operators: States are authorized to assess fees on data center operators to support the collection of required data (Section 3(a)(1)(C)).
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Federal Fees: The Administrator and the Secretaries are authorized to assess fees on data center operators who must submit reports to them to carry out the Act (Section 4).
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Fines for Non-compliance: Data center operators that negligently violate federal reporting requirements can be fined $20,000 for each day they are in violation (Section 3(e)(2)(A)).
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.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill mandates public reporting on data center resource consumption and its regional impacts. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill grants federal agencies the authority to collect data, issue reports, and assess fees if states do not have their own programs.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill increases transparency and provides best practices to mitigate the environmental impacts of data center energy and water consumption.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill provides information on how data center resource use may impact utility rates for consumers. Would people in cities be better off under this? — The bill provides local governments and residents with transparency regarding the resource impacts of large data centers in their communities.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — The bill requires transparency regarding how data center energy and water use impacts consumer rates. Is this likely to grow the economy? — The bill imposes new reporting mandates and potential fines on data center operators, which may increase operational costs.
- 8/13/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/22/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Gabe VasquezDemocrat · New Mexico