Florida Rep. Byron Donalds pushes bill requiring AI data centers to supply their own power, water

Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds has introduced federal legislation, H.R. 9777, dubbed the "Protecting Ratepayers Act," which mandates that hyperscale AI data centers generate their own power and secure their own water resources. The bill's objective is to safeguard utility customers in Florida and across the nation from potential rate increases resulting from the escalating energy and water demands of burgeoning AI infrastructure.

The proposal emerges amidst growing national concerns regarding the strain on power grids and water resources posed by the rapid expansion of AI data centers. The Electric Power Research Institute projects that data centers could account for up to 9% of all U.S. electricity generation by 2030. This federal legislative effort goes beyond voluntary commitments like the Trump administration's "Ratepayer Protection Pledge," which saw major tech companies such as Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, Oracle, and xAI agree to absorb the costs of powering new AI facilities rather than passing them to consumers.

Mehran Basiratmand, director of innovations and programs at Florida Atlantic University, expressed support for the bill, calling it a "move in the right direction." He believes that requiring companies to provide their own utilities could spur investment in alternative energy solutions and alleviate pressure on public infrastructure, potentially benefiting communities both within and outside the United States. WPTV reported on the story and stated it would continue to track the bill's progress through Congress.