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US Senate blocked the Ratepayer Protection Act in a 57–43 vote, eliminating proposed regulation requiring data centers to pay incremental grid costs.

Major policy win for hyperscale operators; removes cost cap on grid-demand pass-through but signals persistent political risk in datacenter siting.
Trade pressSlicast · October 5, 2026 at 10:25 UTC · Global · Source: Tom's Hardware
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On September 30, the United States Senate rejected the Ratepayer Protection Act, a bipartisan bill designed to shield Americans from rapidly rising electricity costs driven by data center buildouts nationwide. The bill fell short of the 60 votes required to advance, finishing 57–43, according to Reuters. The measure had passed the House of Representatives just two weeks earlier, requiring only Senate approval before President Donald Trump could sign it into law. With the failed vote, the bill is now dead.

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US Senate blocked the Ratepayer Protection Act… · Slicast