Richard Durbin (D-IL)
Data Center Water and Energy Transparency Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with 3 Democratic cosponsors · See all 3 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text: CR S1616-1617)
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
This bill requires large data center operators to report their energy and water use to state governments or federal agencies. It applies to data centers that use or plan to use at least 25 megawatts of power. Operators must detail past usage, efficiency metrics, and five-year projections for energy and water consumption. States or federal officials will collect these reports, assess fees, and publish combined public reports on environmental and community impacts. The legislation also establishes fines and penalties for data center operators that fail to comply with the reporting rules.
Yes· 3 of 5
- Scored +5
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill mandates the publication of annual reports regarding the regional impacts of data centers.
- Scored +4
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
The bill increases transparency regarding how data centers impact water and energy resources.
- Scored +2
Does this invest in rural communities?
By tracking resource usage, the bill provides data that could help manage rural water and energy supply reliability.
The opposite
- Scored -2
Does this make it easier to run a small business?
The bill imposes mandatory reporting requirements and potential fees on data center operators.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Transparency on Utility Rates: Section 3(c)(2)(A)(ii) mandates that a joint public report describe the regional impacts of data centers on water and electricity rates for consumers and communities, which could help the public understand how these facilities affect their household utility bills.
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Local Government Access: Section 3(a)(3) and Section 3(b)(3) ensure that data center reports are made available to affected units of local government upon request, giving local officials direct access to information regarding large facilities operating in their communities.
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Efficiency Proposals: Section 3(a)(1)(A)(ii) and Section 3(b)(1)(A)(ii) require data center operators to include proposals for reducing their energy and water use and to outline anticipated efficiency increases, which could encourage better resource management.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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State Fee Burdens: Section 3(a)(1)(C) allows States to assess fees on data center operators to support data collection, which could potentially be passed down to consumers or local businesses through higher costs for services.
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Federal Reporting Fees: Section 4 allows the EPA Administrator and the Secretaries of Energy and Agriculture to jointly assess fees on data center operators that submit reports directly to the federal government, which also adds regulatory costs to facility operations.
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Financial Penalties: Section 3(e)(2)(A) imposes a $20,000 per day fine on data center operators that negligently violate federal reporting requirements, which could lead to legal disputes or increased operational overhead.
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.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill increases transparency regarding how data centers impact water and energy resources. Does this invest in rural communities? — By tracking resource usage, the bill provides data that could help manage rural water and energy supply reliability.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill mandates the publication of annual reports regarding the regional impacts of data centers.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The required reports aim to provide clarity on how data center usage impacts consumer electricity and water rates. Would people in cities be better off under this? — The transparency requirements provide information on resource impacts that could affect urban utility costs and reliability.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill imposes mandatory reporting requirements and potential fees on data center operators.
- 9/29/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/24/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 3/25/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text: CR S1616-1617)
- Introduced in Senate
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.
Catherine Cortez MastoDemocrat · Nevada
Tammy DuckworthDemocrat · Illinois
Raphael WarnockDemocrat · Georgia