The legislation, introduced by Representatives Gabe Evans and Kathy Castor, aims to prevent developers from shifting the financial burden of new energy infrastructure onto general consumers.
It specifically targets large-scale facilities with a power demand of 100 megawatts or more.
The bill is a response to growing public concern over the immense energy and water requirements of the facilities that power artificial intelligence.
Under the proposed standards, states could require data center developers to pay for their own power sources and transmission lines—the specialized cables and towers used to move electricity over long distances—rather than passing those expenses to local residents through higher monthly bills.
Proponents argue that the entities creating the sudden surge in energy demand should be responsible for the capital expenditure needed to expand the grid.
While the bill received broad support in the House, it still requires action from the Senate to become law.
Some environmental organizations and advocacy groups have criticized the measure, claiming it is too weak because it only provides voluntary guidelines for state regulators rather than a federal mandate.
If adopted by states, the mechanism would fundamentally change how the AI infrastructure boom is financed, shifting the economic impact from the public to the technology companies driving the expansion.