{"id":2662828,"date":"2026-09-16T22:24:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-17T02:24:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-passes-bipartisan-bill-that-would-make-data-centers-foot-the-bill-for-increased-utility-costs\/"},"modified":"2026-09-16T22:26:38","modified_gmt":"2026-09-17T02:26:38","slug":"house-passes-bipartisan-bill-that-would-make-data-centers-foot-the-bill-for-increased-utility-costs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-passes-bipartisan-bill-that-would-make-data-centers-foot-the-bill-for-increased-utility-costs\/","title":{"rendered":"House Passes Bipartisan Bill That Would Make Data Centers Foot the Bill for Increased Utility Costs"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">32<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhouse-passes-bipartisan-bill-that-would-make-data-centers-foot-the-bill-for-increased-utility-costs%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2662828&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The House of Representatives approved a bill called the \u201cRatepayer Protection act\u201d with a bipartisan vote of 417-3. The legislation aims to require data centers that consume 100 megawatts or more to fund the costs of new infrastructure like power sources and transmission lines, preventing these expenses from being passed onto consumers. The bill specifically targets the rapid growth of AI-related data centers, addressing concerns over rising utility costs that impact ratepayers, especially in Florida. Democratic Rep. Kathy Castor and GOP Rep. Gabe Evans introduced the bill, emphasizing that those generating increased demand should bear the costs. While it has passage in the House, its fate in the Senate remains uncertain. Supporters argue that responsible growth of data centers benefits communities by possibly lowering utility rates and protecting national technological competitiveness amid global AI advancements, particularly against China. House Speaker mike Johnson expedited its consideration through a swift procedural process due to broad support, though some Democrats call for more comprehensive measures.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>The House of Representatives passed a bill Wednesday that would force data centers to cover any extra utility costs they create, as the issue takes center stage ahead of November\u2019s midterm elections.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/119th-congress\/house-bill\/9340\/cosponsors\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">legislation<\/a>, known as \u201cThe Ratepayer Protection Act,\u201d passed with flying colors, with a final tally of 417-3, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2026\/09\/15\/congress-ai-data-center-utility-costs.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CNBC<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The bill targets the recent expansion of data centers across the country linked to an uptick in artificial intelligence, and protects consumers from rising costs, Reuters <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/legal\/litigation\/us-house-vote-data-center-power-cost-bill-2026-09-16\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>It also sets standards that state regulators can adopt to require artificial intelligence data centers \u201cwith a demand of 100 megawatts or more to cover the costs of building new power sources, transmission lines, and other infrastructure, rather than passing those costs down to consumers,\u201d according to CNBC.<\/p>\n<p>Democratic Rep. Kathy Castor of Florida and GOP Rep. Gabe Evans of Colorado introduced the bill and garnered dozens of co-sponsors.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy neighbors across Florida are grappling with skyrocketing electric bills. Ratepayers should not have to subsidize wealthy corporations\u2019 growing energy demands, especially from AI data centers,\u201d Castor said in a June <a href=\"https:\/\/castor.house.gov\/news\/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=405231\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">statement<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Despite passing the House, its future in the Senate remains unclear.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe principle is commonsense: Those creating the new demand should be responsible for the costs associated with meeting that demand,\u201d Evans <a href=\"https:\/\/washingtonreporter.news\/op-ed-rep-gabe-evans-protecting-ratepayers-while-powering-americas-future\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">wrote in<\/a> an op-ed for the Washington Reporter on Monday.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMany American communities today are seeing that when data center development is done responsibly, American consumers can actually benefit \u2014 from lower utility rates to decreasing tax rates, all while keeping their data stored securely here at home, under American laws and protections, rather than in data centers controlled by Communist China,\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis issue is only becoming more important as the global race for artificial intelligence accelerates,\u201d Evans added.<\/p>\n<p>He also stressed that \u201cCommunist China is working every day to outcompete the United States, wage cyberwar, steal American innovation and information, and expand its technological influence around the world.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAmerica cannot afford to lose that race,\u201d Evans concluded.<\/p>\n<p>House \u200bDemocratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries called it an \u201cappropriate step forward\u201d but said that \u201cmore clearly needs to be done,\u201d during a news conference this week.<\/p>\n<p>GOP House Speaker Mike Johnson used a tactic known as \u201csuspension of the rules\u201d to bring the bill to the floor, expediting the process due to its broad support and lack of controversy.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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