US Senate rejects bill targeting AI data centre electricity costs

The US Senate blocked the Ratepayer Protection Act in a 57–43 vote Wednesday, falling short of the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster.

• The bipartisan bill would have required state regulators to consider forcing data centres to bear the costs of electricity infrastructure upgrades.
• The measure passed the House of Representatives 417–3 earlier this month before failing in the Senate.
• Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer dismissed the legislation as "toothless" and "totally optional," saying it did not require data centres to cover upgrade costs.
• Four Democrats — Maggie Hassan, Amy Klobuchar, Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock — joined Republicans to support the bill.