Senate Democrats block datacenter energy bill
Senate Democrats blocked the Ratepayer Protection Act, a bill that would have required utilities to ensure data centers cover the costs of related transmission, generation and distribution upgrades. The vote followed opposition from Detroit residents to DTE Energy’s plan to provide power for a proposed $7 billion data center in rural Michigan.
The U.S. Senate voted 57-43 against advancing the Ratepayer Protection Act, short of the 60 votes needed to proceed. The legislation, previously approved by the House, would have directed utilities to consider standards requiring data centers to pay for electricity infrastructure upgrades rather than shifting those costs to households and businesses.
Democratic leaders, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, called the measure ineffective and said it would not adequately address data centers’ growing electricity consumption. Republicans argued that the bill would protect ratepayers, while Detroit residents have separately protested DTE Energy’s plan to supply power to a proposed $7 billion data center in rural Michigan.