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Congress·In Committee·about 2 months ago

Congress would require regular public reports on data centers’ water use, pollution, and electricity demand

Also known as: Data Center Transparency Act

Legislative Progress

✓ Filed
Review
House
Senate
President

Impacts

Mixed Impacts(3)
Housing Assistance
Neutral
Homeowner
Neutral
Renter
Neutral

Key Points

  • EPA would have to publish a public report every 3 months on how U.S. data centers affect water and air, including water used, water reused, and pollution released into water.
  • The EPA report would also track greenhouse gas emissions from data centers and discuss how those emissions may add up over time, including impacts on overburdened communities.
  • The Energy Information Administration would have to collect energy-use data for each U.S. data center every 6 months and publish a public report every 6 months.
  • The energy report would break down data by state and look at changes over time, new data centers opening, and possible links to changes in household energy bills and average household energy use and cost.
EnvironmentEnergyClimate ChangeConsumer Protection

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
Jan 8, 2026House

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Jan 8, 2026

Introduced in House

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

Within 6 months after the bill is enacted, then every 3 months

EPA starts publishing a public quarterly report on data centers’ water use, water reuse, water-system impacts, pollution to water, and greenhouse gas emissions.

People can look up official federal data for the last 3 months and compare it over time (for example, whether local water rates rose or whether pollution to water is being reported).

Within 6 months after the bill is enacted, then every 6 months

Energy Information Administration begins collecting energy-use data from each U.S. data center every 6 months.

Creates a regular tracking system that can show where data centers are driving electricity demand and how fast it is growing.

Within 6 months after the bill is enacted, then every 6 months

Energy Information Administration publishes a public report with total data center energy use by state, changes over time, how many new data centers opened, and how household bills may have changed.

Residents, utilities, and state officials can use the same dataset to debate whether new grid projects or rate changes are needed and whether households are feeling cost impacts.

Related News

2 articles
E&E News by POLITICO·about 2 months ago

Democrats target data centers’ energy, water use

Covers the introduction of the Data Center Transparency Act (H.R. 6984) alongside the PRICE Act, including proposed reporting on water use and energy impacts.

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National Ground Water Association (NGWA) News·about 2 months ago

U.S. House of Representative Robert Menendez introduces bill to regulate data center energy generation and monitor water use

Trade-association news item summarizing the Data Center Transparency Act’s requirements for quarterly EPA reporting on data-center water impacts and related disclosures.

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Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Data Center Transparency Act

Bill NumberHR 6984
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionReferred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(1)
D: 1

Analysis generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, this should not be considered legal or professional advice. Always verify information with official government sources.