Artificial Intelligence Environmental Impacts Act of 2026

This bill would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to study the environmental and energy effects of artificial intelligence and its data centers, including energy and water use, pollution, electronic waste, land use, and energy costs, and to publish a report within one year. The EPA would have to take public comments and hold public hearings in each of its regions. The National Institute of Standards and Technology would gather a group of stakeholders, including Tribes, local governments, academics, civil society, and industry, to develop ways to measure and report these effects. Operators of AI data centers using more than 50 megawatts would have to report their environmental impacts to the EPA every year, the EPA would post the information online, and operators who do not report could face penalties.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Donald S. Beyer, Jr. Democrat sponsor
• 22 cosponsors