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.”
His remarks echoed past statements that “data centers should only be located where communities want them.”
Husted touted the benefits of data centers, citing billions in private investment, construction jobs, and revenue for schools and local services. However, he added that “those benefits should not come with a hidden charge of electric bills for families, farmers and small businesses.”
Also in July, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine joined 22 other Republican governors to sign a pledge released by the White House that called for data centers to pay their own utility and infrastructure costs.
It was Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., who not only objected to unanimous consent, but also pushed for his own bill, the Grid Savings Act.
Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, objected to that request, as Husted’s bill had already passed the House last Wednesday.
The Ratepayer Protection Act passed by a vote of 417-3 and was co-sponsored by Democrat members. The three who opposed it were Democrats, including Reps. Summer Lee of Pennsylvania, Delia Ramirez of Illinois, and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan. Twelve members did not vote.
From the Senate floor, Husted pointed out how House members “did their jobs” when “they stood up for the American ratepayer,” declaring “it’s time for the Senate to do the same.”
Husted posted his remarks from the Senate floor to X and has continued to post his outrage with Democrats. “Despite Senate Democrat obstruction, I’ll keep fighting to get it done,” he posted on Thursday.
His most recent post from Monday shared screenshots of media coverage of Heinrich blocking his bill.
As he shared Husted’s remarks, Moreno claimed Democrats blocked the bill because “they care more about politics than giving relief to Americans,” adding it was “totally depraved.”
Although Heinrich claimed that Husted’s bill “falls short,” the election implications cannot be ignored.
Husted’s race against former Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Democrat who represented Ohio for three terms until he was ousted by Moreno in 2024, is regarded as a “toss-up.” Brown has made data centers a major part of his campaign and has released ads with quotes that Husted is “the face of data centers.”
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[ H/T The Daily Signal ]
