Senate Democrats block Sen. Husted-led bill on data centers, calling it ‘toothless’
Senate Democrats blocked the Ratepayer Protection Act, a bill led by Sen. Jon Husted of Ohio that sought to prevent data center developments from shifting higher electricity and water costs onto consumers. The measure passed the House overwhelmingly but failed to overcome a 60-vote Senate filibuster threshold amid partisan disagreements over whether it provided meaningful protections.
The Senate voted 57-43 against advancing the Ratepayer Protection Act, falling short of the 60 votes needed to break a filibuster. Led by Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, the legislation would have established a federal standard and directed state public utility commissions to ensure that data center developers cover costs associated with their substantial electricity and water use rather than passing them to consumers.
Senate Democrats, led by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, argued that the bill was optional for states and offered little practical protection, calling it a partisan messaging measure. Republicans, including Majority Leader John Thune, said its broad House support demonstrated that it addressed a significant consumer concern. The debate also has political implications for Husted, who is seeking a full Senate term and has faced criticism from Democratic rival Sherrod Brown over his support for data center development.