Senator Cynthia Lummis is introducing the POWER Up Act, which would give the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission authority over data center connections to the power grid, addressing AI energy consumption concerns.
# Republican senator to propose federal control over data centers’ access to the power grid
Source: [https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/gop-bill-put-data-center-grid-access-federal-oversight-rcna350263](https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/gop-bill-put-data-center-grid-access-federal-oversight-rcna350263)
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Sen\. Cynthia Lummis’ POWER Up Act would give the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission authority to approve or reject data centers’ connections to some grids\.
A data center in Vernon, Calif\.Mario Tama / Getty Images file
June 16, 2026, 8:34 PM EDT
A Republican senator will introduce legislation Wednesday that, if it is adopted, would set federal rules around how data centers can plug into the electric grid as AI energy consumption has become a front\-line political issue for state and federal lawmakers\.
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Senator Adam Schiff proposes the Energy Cost Fairness and Reliability Act requiring data centers over 50 megawatts to secure their own power, aiming to reduce energy costs for consumers amid rising AI data center electricity demands.
FERC orders grid operators to fast-track interconnection requests for AI data centers, aiming to ease grid bottlenecks but not addressing generating capacity shortages.
The EPA indicates that power supplied to data centers may be exempt from certain pollution laws, potentially affecting how AI infrastructure energy use is regulated.
A Wired feature exploring how data center construction has sparked bipartisan political resistance across the US, fueled by concerns about AI's energy demands and local impacts.
Republican lawmakers are calling for an FBI investigation into whether opposition to AI data center construction is a Chinese influence operation, citing reports from conservative think tanks.