Unleashing Low-Cost Rural AI Act

This bill would require the Secretary of Energy to choose a National Laboratory to study how the growth of artificial intelligence and data center sites affects energy supply in the United States. The study would look at whether infrastructure updates are needed to place these sites on land owned and operated by public utilities, and whether energy sources such as hydroelectric, solar, wind, battery storage, carbon capture, nuclear, and geothermal could be used. It would also examine effects on energy costs, reliability, land use, water use, and consumer costs, and ways to speed up environmental reviews and permits. The study would give priority to remote areas, and the Secretary would report the findings to House and Senate committees within 180 days.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Jim Costa Democrat sponsor
• 6 cosponsors