Ricketts weighs in on data center ratepayer bill falling short in the Senate
The U.S. Senate rejected the Ratepayer Protection Act, which would have required states to consider standards making large data center developers responsible for power and infrastructure costs associated with their facilities. Nebraska Sen. Pete Ricketts supported the measure and said local officials should have greater authority to negotiate electricity and water-use conditions with developers.
The U.S. Senate voted 57-43 against the Ratepayer Protection Act, a bill that would have required states to consider standards for data centers consuming at least 100 megawatts. The proposal would have made developers responsible for additional electricity and infrastructure costs needed to serve their facilities, rather than shifting those costs to other utility customers.
Nebraska Sen. Pete Ricketts backed the measure, arguing that data center companies should pay for infrastructure upgrades and provide information about expected electricity and water use. He also said Nebraska communities need more autonomy to negotiate project conditions with developers. Senate Democrats opposed the bill as insufficient because it required states only to consider the standards, while Ricketts said lawmakers may revisit the legislation after the November midterm elections.