Democrats Reject Unanimous Consent Request on Data Centers– www.dailysignal.com

Congress had a chance to address concerns about data centers felt by residents across the country, though that effort was stymied last Thursday by Democrats’ rejection of a unanimous consent request brought by Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio.

Husted, who faces a special election in November, introduced the Ratepayer Protection Act in July to protect ratepayers from having to foot the bill for data centers.

“The Ratepayer Protection Act would require state utility regulators to consider standards, ensuring that large-load customers pay the full, incremental cost of the infrastructure needed to serve them,” Husted said from the Senate floor. “The Ratepayer Protection Act rests on a principle every American understands: Pay your own way,” he added.

As he highlighted the increase in data centers in the next five years, Husted said lawmakers “need to protect American ratepayers from footing the bill.”

“So, as we look to build the future, we must follow some basic principles of fairness,” he said. “The company that is creating enormous new demands for electricity should pay the costs required to serve them.”

He also called attention to costs, which are expected to be a major factor in the upcoming midterms.

“Working families, small businesses, and senior citizens should not open up their electric bills and discover the pain for the power infrastructure needed by some large tech company in the world or in their neighborhood,” Husted said. The senator also touted how his bill will lead to more savings. “Most importantly, it will help the American people keep more of what they earn.”