GOP Rep. Gabe Evans on running in competitive Colorado district, data center regulation and more
Rep. Gabe Evans discussed the Ratepayer Protection Act, which would prevent data centers from shifting power and infrastructure costs onto other utility customers. The bill passed the House with broad bipartisan support but failed to advance in the Senate by three votes, though Evans said it could return during a future lame-duck session.
Rep. Gabe Evans of Colorado discussed his Ratepayer Protection Act during a CBS News interview. The legislation would establish a federal standard requiring data centers to pay for the electricity and infrastructure they use, demonstrate sufficient financial strength to complete projects, and explain publicly if states decline to adopt comparable protections. Evans said the measure passed the U.S. House with support from nearly all Republicans and many Democrats but was blocked in the Senate by a three-vote margin.
Evans argued that the bill could protect utility customers from higher rates associated with large technology loads, particularly in states such as Colorado that do not have a specific data center cost-allocation standard. He said the legislation is not dead and could be reconsidered after the midterm elections, while also discussing separate proposals involving artificial intelligence safeguards and open-source AI.