Bill would require annual federal reports on data center power and water use

What does this do?

HR 9019 requires the U.S. Department of Energy to track and annually report to Congress how much electricity and water large data centers consume. Starting two years after enactment, the Energy Secretary must detail each facility's water draws from public supplies, whether it generates or buys electricity, and who paid to connect it to the power grid. The bill covers only data centers fast-tracked through federal permitting under a recent executive order and excludes military and certain government-run facilities.

Who does it affect?

The bill targets large, privately operated data centers that received special federal permits to build faster, often massive facilities used for artificial intelligence and cloud computing. Everyday residents near these facilities may be indirectly affected, as data centers can compete with homes, farms, and businesses for local water and electricity.

Why does it matter?

Without this reporting, Congress lacks a clear picture of how much strain large data centers place on local water supplies and the broader electrical grid. The bill does not ban or limit data centers in any way; it only requires the government to gather and share information about their resource use.

What does it cost, and who pays?

• Grid connection costs tracked
• Utility customers could bear costs