New Bill Would Force Large Data Centers to Disclose Power and Water Use
Summary
Representative Eugene Vindman introduced the proposed Data Center Oversight Act, which would require data center operators to report their power and water use and other details to the Energy Information Administration. The bill aims to give communities information about data centers’ local effects; it would allow fines of up to $1 million per day for missing, incomplete, or misleading reports.Key Facts
- The bill would require the Energy Information Administration, part of the Department of Energy, to collect and publish information about existing and proposed data centers.
- Operators would report ownership, energy and water use, and costs that could be passed on to utility customers.
- Companies would also report whether owners signed nondisclosure agreements with public officials and whether union workers helped build the facilities.
- The proposed reports would state whether a data center is within 1,000 feet of a school, national park, hospital, or home.
- Companies could face fines of up to $1 million per day for failing to report, submitting incomplete reports, or providing misleading information.
- Vindman also introduced the Make Data Centers Pay Act in October, which would require medium- and large-sized data centers to cover the added electricity costs of serving them.
- The article says residents and environmental groups opposed a large data center development planned for Prince William County, Virginia, and the plans were abandoned.
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