Tags: electricity rates

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders announced a bill that would place a moratorium on the construction and upgrade of new and existing data centers used for artificial intelligence until legislation safeguards public health, the environment, and AI safety. The proposal targets facilities above a certain energy load and calls for shared wealth from AI, export restrictions on computing hardware, and protections against higher electricity bills. The move follows growing public opposition, state-level moratoriums, and bipartisan concerns over the rapid expansion of data centers. Industry groups argue the moratorium could harm jobs and tax revenue, while progressive groups see it as a necessary check on AI growth. Read more

Microsoft announced that it will ask utilities and public commissions to set electricity rates high enough to cover the full power costs of its AI data centers. The company also pledged a 40 percent improvement in water‑use intensity by 2030, highlighted a new closed‑loop cooling design that eliminates the need for potable water, and affirmed it will pay its full share of local property taxes. These commitments are aimed at addressing rising residential electricity rates and the environmental impact of AI workloads. Read more