Senator Markey Releases Discussion Draft of Legislation to Create a National Framework to Address Data Center Harm

Sen Ed Markey (D-MA), member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and co-chair of the Senate Environmental Justice Caucus, released a discussion draft of legislation that would create a national framework to prevent increased energy costs, pollution, and adverse health harms related to the rapid buildout of data centers and associated fossil fuel infrastructure. The Protecting Communities from Data Center Impacts Act would:

• Require data centers to receive a certificate from the federal government prior to permitting and construction that affirms the data center will not harm the public interest and will meet minimum standards for energy, environmental, and economic impacts
• Provide grants to build community capacity and support technical assistance to monitor and mitigate air, water, noise, and other environmental and public health impacts from data centers
• Require data centers pay for necessary grid infrastructure and enter into agreements to reduce their energy demand during times of grid stress
• Require data centers fund renewable energy and storage to meet their capacity needs, rather than use on-site diesel
• Require high labor standards for construction