{"id":2673346,"date":"2026-09-30T17:43:01","date_gmt":"2026-09-30T21:43:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/chuck-schumer-orders-democrats-to-block-bill-that-aims-to-force-data-centers-to-cover-increased-energy-costs\/"},"modified":"2026-09-30T17:45:43","modified_gmt":"2026-09-30T21:45:43","slug":"chuck-schumer-orders-democrats-to-block-bill-that-aims-to-force-data-centers-to-cover-increased-energy-costs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/chuck-schumer-orders-democrats-to-block-bill-that-aims-to-force-data-centers-to-cover-increased-energy-costs\/","title":{"rendered":"Chuck Schumer Orders Democrats to Block Bill That Aims to Force Data Centers to Cover Increased Energy 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\">36<\/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%2Fchuck-schumer-orders-democrats-to-block-bill-that-aims-to-force-data-centers-to-cover-increased-energy-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=2673346&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>Senate Democrats are opposing a bill called the Ratepayer Protection Act, which passed overwhelmingly in the House to help lower energy costs for data centers. The bill aims to ensure that data centers pay for their energy use and infrastructure costs, possibly reducing costs for consumers. Despite its strong support in the House (417-3 vote), Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and other Democrats oppose it, criticizing it as ineffective and accusing Republicans of using it as messaging. Some Democrats have changed their positions, with Senator Peter Welch stating he no longer supports the bill due to its perceived lack of enforcement. The bill requires 60 Senate votes to pass, needing Democratic support to succeed. Republicans argue the bill would protect consumers and promote American leadership in AI and technology advancement, while Democrats contend it doesn&#8217;t sufficiently address their concerns about regulation and cost. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-salt-pledge-spurs-latest-tax-headache-for-gop-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Trump SALT pledge spurs latest tax headache for GOP - Washington Examiner\">debate reflects broader tensions<\/a> over infrastructure, energy costs, and economic competitiveness related to data center growth and AI dominance.  <\/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><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Senate Democrats are working to short-circuit a bill aimed at protecting consumers from the costs of data centers.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/energycommerce.house.gov\/posts\/ratepayer-protection-act-passes-house-with-strong-bipartisan-support\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ratepayer Protection Act<\/a> passed the House 417-3 in the 435-member House.<\/p>\n<p>However, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer opposes the bill, which he called \u201ca fraud,\u201d according to <a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/policy\/energy-environment\/6119834-senate-data-center-bill-ratepayer-protection-act\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Hill<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAmericans are demanding real guardrails on AI and data centers, but all the Republicans offer is a toothless messaging bill,\u201d he said Tuesday.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R- SD) on the Ratepayer Protection Act vote tomorrow: \u201cIt ought to be a no brainer here on the floor of the Senate.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The bill, which aims to lower energy costs from data centers, passed 417-3 in the House of Representatives on Sept. 16. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/J76lpJuMjJ\">pic.twitter.com\/J76lpJuMjJ<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Summer Hu (@Summer_Huu) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Summer_Huu\/status\/2105010491638886668?\">September 29, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The bill requires 60 votes to pass a procedural hurdle. Although Republicans have a majority in the Senate, it would take Democratic votes to move the bill forward.<\/p>\n<p>Democratic Sen. Peter Welch of Vermont, who had been the lone Democrat supporting the bill, said he has changed his mind.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe want to get a real Ratepayer Protection Act,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m for ratepayer protections. This bill doesn\u2019t do anything.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The bill introduced by Republican Sen. Jon Husted of Ohio requires states to consider imposing a regulatory structure in which data centers pay for energy costs and any power grid updates.<\/p>\n<p>The bill does not require states to impose costs on data centers, leading Democratic Sen. Gary Peters to snark, \u201cI wish it actually had some teeth.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">.<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SenJonHusted?\">@SenJonHusted<\/a>\u2018s Ratepayer Protection Act passed the House 417-3. That\u2019s overwhelming support. Yet, Democrats in the Senate stand in the way of relief.<\/p>\n<p>Tomorrow, Democrats can join Republicans and help lower costs or they can explain why they\u2019re standing in the way of relief. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/YfPb5qFf77\">pic.twitter.com\/YfPb5qFf77<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Sen. John Barrasso (@SenJohnBarrasso) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SenJohnBarrasso\/status\/2104969921058963874?\">September 29, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>After House passage of the bill, <a href=\"https:\/\/energycommerce.house.gov\/posts\/ratepayer-protection-act-passes-house-with-strong-bipartisan-support\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Republicans<\/a> noted that it effectively insulated consumers from the costs of data centers.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen done responsibly, data center development leads to longer term investments and broader infrastructure improvements in the communities where they\u2019re built,\u201d Republican Rep. Brett Guthrie of Kentucky said. \u201cThe Ratepayer Protection Act helps to safeguard these benefits by ensuring that the companies who are building data centers \u2014 and not American families and small businesses \u2014 are paying for the electricity they use.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cU.S. leadership in the race to AI dominance is critical to our economic prosperity and national security, so we need to keep building the needed infrastructure with appropriate accountability measures,\u201d he added. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to Congressman Evans for his tireless work \u2014 on a bipartisan basis \u2014 to protect ratepayers while ensuring that America continues to lead the world in innovation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Sen. <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/JonHusted?\">@JonHusted<\/a> (R-OH) on Ratepayer Protection Act: \u201cThis is the only bill that has a chance to pass before the election\u2026206 Democrats voted for it\u2026if we want to prove to the American people before the midterm elections, whose side we\u2019re on, this is the only chance.\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/jTpwNQwIbp\">pic.twitter.com\/jTpwNQwIbp<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 CSPAN (@cspan) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/cspan\/status\/2105037168741691646?\">September 29, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>  Republican Rep. Gabe Evans of Colorado said, \u201cHardworking families should not have to subsidize the energy demands of data centers. America needs the infrastructure to lead the world in AI and outcompete Communist China, but we cannot have that growth at the expense of hardworking families, farmers, seniors, and small businesses.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act ensures large data centers pay for the infrastructure they require while giving states the flexibility to determine what works best for their communities. I\u2019m incredibly proud to lead the charge on this pivotal issue, ensure our ratepayers are protected, and keep American innovation moving forward,\u201d he said.<\/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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