Colorado U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans, Energy Secretary Chris Wright call on data centers to cover grid expansion costs
U.S. Representative Gabe Evans and Energy Secretary Chris Wright are promoting the bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act, which would require data center companies to cover the costs of electrical grid infrastructure expansion rather than shifting them to consumers. The legislation has passed the Energy Subcommittee and is advancing to the U.S. House floor for a vote, aiming to prevent increased electricity costs for residents in areas like Weld County, Colorado, which is welcoming data center development.
U.S. Representative Gabe Evans (R) and U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright discussed a consumer-focused strategy for expanding the national energy grid amidst increasing demand from data centers. Speaking at a roundtable in Thornton, Colorado, hosted by the America First Policy Institute, the two detailed Evans' bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act.
This proposed legislation mandates that data center companies finance the necessary infrastructure for connecting to the electrical grid, preventing these expenses from being passed on to existing customers. Representative Evans highlighted that the bill has successfully moved through the Energy Subcommittee and is slated for review by the full committee before proceeding to a vote on the U.S. House floor. He explained that by requiring data centers to pay their own way, and ensuring financial security to prevent consumers from bearing costs if a company defaults, the bill could ultimately reduce electricity prices for residents.
Weld County, a significant part of Evans' district, has already announced plans to attract data center development. Evans emphasized that the bill aims to protect local residents from higher electricity costs associated with these projects. Secretary Wright addressed concerns from Coloradans about the rapid expansion of data centers, acknowledging public apprehension about new technologies like artificial intelligence but asserting that the benefits would outweigh the downsides, particularly regarding electricity prices.