Artificial Intelligence Environmental Impacts Act of 2026

This bill would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to complete and publish a study within one year on 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. The EPA would also hold public hearings in each of its regions. The National Institute of Standards and Technology would convene a group of tribal, local government, academic, civil society, and industry members to develop ways to measure these effects. Operators of AI data centers using more than 50 megawatts would have to report their environmental impacts to the EPA each year, with the information posted publicly and penalties possible for failing to report.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Edward J. Markey Democrat sponsor
• 4 cosponsors