Senate Democrat blocks bipartisan bill aimed at limiting AI data-center utility costs
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Senator Martin Heinrich halted the Ratepayer Protection Act, arguing it relies on voluntary state pledges and does not compel data centers to cover grid upgrade expenses, leaving the proposal unlikely to pass before the November elections.
Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) used a procedural objection on Thursday to stop a bipartisan Senate measure that would have required large artificial-intelligence data centers to pay for the electricity-grid upgrades they trigger. The bill, known as the Ratepayer Protection Act, was introduced by Republican Senator John Husted (R-Ohio) and had already cleared the House with a 417-3 vote.
Heinrich said the legislation falls short because it relies on voluntary commitments from states and developers rather than mandatory requirements. > "It's not enough to tell states to consider making data centers pay for grid updates. Rather than voluntary pledges or suggestions to states, Congress needs to pass real legislation with real teeth," he said on the Senate floor.
The proposal would have created a framework that states could adopt, obligating data centers drawing 100 megawatts or more to cover costs for new power generation, transmission lines and related infrastructure instead of passing those costs to consumers. Husted argued the measure is needed as the United States plans to build roughly 1,000 major data centers over the next five years.
Heinrich offered an alternative, the GRID Savings Act of 2026, which would give the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission authority to require facilities using 150 megawatts or more to pay for any grid-impact costs. Republican Senator Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) criticized Heinrich's objection, saying the original bill would have provided immediate relief to electricity users.
With the Senate set to adjourn for the election season, the blockage makes it unlikely the bill will advance before the November midterms.