Power for the People Act of 2026

This bill would require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to issue a rule within 180 days making grid operators create separate interconnection queues for data centers using more than 50 megawatts. Data centers would get priority if they bring their own low- or no-carbon power supply, avoid diesel backup generation, pay prevailing wages, use registered apprentices, and use labor peace agreements, and grid operators could delay or deny connections that would affect reliability or prices for other customers. Utilities would have to charge data centers for local transmission upgrades needed only because of them. States would be required to consider creating special electricity rate classes for data centers within two years, and the Department of Energy would offer grants and technical assistance for rate design and demand forecasting.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Paul Tonko Democrat sponsor
• 27 cosponsors