House passes bill attempting to lower data center costs

The House passed a bill meant to protect consumers from higher electricity rates caused by data centers in one of its final votes before the midterms. The bill passed under a procedure that fast-tracks noncontroversial legislation and requires a two-thirds majority vote. The Ratepayer Protection Act passed with overwhelming bipartisan support 417-3, with three Democrats voting against it: Reps. Summer Lee (D-PA), Delia Ramirez (D-IL) and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI). Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has signaled the Senate could take up the bill. But even if the legislation passes the Senate, it’s unlikely to immediately lower energy costs: It directs states to consider making firms that operate new data centers pay a federally set rate for high-volume electricity usage. The bill would not take full effect for two years. The vote will help vulnerable representatives argue that they have taken some action on data centers as they hit the campaign trail.