Data Center Water and Energy Transparency Act of 2026

Progress

Timeline

• Mar 25Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text: CR S1616-1617)

Summary

**What it does:** This bill would require companies that operate data centers to regularly report how much energy and water their facilities use. **Who it affects:** - Data center operators (companies that run large computer server facilities) - State governments and three federal agencies (EPA, Department of Energy, and Department of Agriculture) that would receive these reports - Indirectly affects communities where data centers operate **What would change:** Data center operators would need to track and submit detailed reports about their energy consumption and water usage. This information would go to state governments and federal agencies. Currently, there's no standardized requirement for this type of reporting. The bill aims to create transparency around the environmental impact of data centers, which consume significant amounts of electricity for cooling servers and water for temperature control. This data could inform future energy planning and environmental policies. **Status:** The bill is currently under review in a congressional committee.

How This Affects You