GRID Act

This bill would require large private data centers (20 megawatts or more) to get all of their power, including backup power, from sources separate from the electric grid, starting 180 days after the law takes effect. For up to 10 years, existing data centers that use grid power could keep operating if the Secretary of Energy issues a yearly certificate finding the data center will not raise electricity rates, with residential rates given priority; data centers could pay credits to offset rate effects. Violations would carry a civil penalty of at least $1,000,000 per day, and companies building off-grid power sources would need a project labor agreement. The bill would also require data center companies and utilities to publicly disclose expected and past utility use, land purchases or leases for data centers, and utility agreements and incentives.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Josh Hawley Republican sponsor
• 2 cosponsors