Politics

Senate Fails To Advance GOP-Led Data Center Bill That Had No Teeth

Screenshot/YouTube/Sen. Jon Husted

The Senate blocked legislation Wednesday that would require states to consider making data centers foot the bill for higher electricity costs without an enforcement mechanism.

The bill failed to pass the necessary 60-vote threshold to reach the floor in a 57 to 43 vote. The legislation would require states to consider implementing a federal standard to ensure data centers cover the costs of grid upgrades and rising electricity costs, although it would not require states to actually make data centers pay for these rising costs.

Democratic Sens. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock of Georgia and Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire voted to advance the legislation.

Republican Ohio Sen. Jon Husted introduced the legislation as he faces a competitive race against former Democratic Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown.

The Senate attempted to fast-track the bill’s passage on Sept. 17 through a recorded vote, but Democratic New Mexico Sen. Martin Heinrich objected to it and stopped the effort. Only one senator is necessary to stop a recorded vote.

Heinrich introduced the Guarding Ratepayers from Increased Demand-costs (GRID) Savings Act of 2026 to require data centers and other large electricity users to pay for grid updates and connection facilities they require.

“I don’t think it’s enough to just take their word for it. It’s not enough for us to tell states to consider making data centers pay for grid updates,” Heinrich said. “Rather than making pledges or suggestions to states, Congress needs to pass real legislation with real teeth. That’s why today I introduced the GRID Savings Act to require, not a voluntary agreement, to require large load customers like data centers to pay for the facilities needed to connect them to the grid. Not to consider it, not to make pledges, [but] to actually do it.”

A single large-scale data center can use 100 megawatts of electricity, which is enough power to turn lights on in 100,000 homes, according to Consumer Reports.

Overall U.S. electricity prices have risen roughly 27% since 2019, outpacing standard consumer inflation. Electric bills in high concentration states surged faster than the 6% national average, rising 13% in Virginia, 16% in Illinois and 12% in Ohio over a one-year time frame, according to CNBC.

Data center construction rose by 57% from July 2025 to July while energy costs continued to rise.

Natural gas consumption used to generate electricity for U.S. data centers was projected to increase by 15 billion cubic feet per day through 2035, putting U.S. data centers on track to consume more natural gas than nearly every other country.

The legislation passed the House in a 417 to 3 vote, with Democratic Reps. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, Delia Ramirez of Illinois and Summer Lee of Pennsylvania voting against it in a Sept. 16 vote.