House Approves Legislation to Protect Consumers From Data Center Energy Costs

WHO:

Fox News - Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., stated that the tax loophole for Opportunity Zones is being exploited by tech companies to build data centers.

Fox News - Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., plans to introduce legislation to close a tax loophole for data centers that he argues is being exploited by tech companies.

Fox News - Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., plans to introduce legislation to close a tax loophole for data centers.

CBS News - Lawmakers in the House of Representatives

Fox News - Both parties in Congress

WHAT:

Fox News - The Ratepayer Protection Act aims to prevent data center energy costs from raising electric bills for families, as concerns over data centers have increased significantly.

Fox News - Hawley's forthcoming bill would explicitly exclude data centers from accessing tax cuts related to Opportunity Zones, which he describes as "corporate welfare."

Fox News - Hawley's forthcoming bill would explicitly exclude data centers from accessing tax cuts related to Opportunity Zones.

NBC News - The House passed bipartisan legislation to shield consumers from higher energy costs due to AI data centers in their area.

[September 16, 2026 at 7:13 p.m. EDT] - The Washington Post - The bill was approved with overwhelming bipartisan support but is unlikely to lower prices immediately.

Fox News - The Ratepayer Protection Act aims to prevent data center energy costs from raising electric bills for families.

NBC News - The House passed bipartisan legislation to shield consumers from higher energy costs associated with data centers.

CBS News - The House passed legislation aimed at protecting consumers from data center energy costs.

Fox News - The Ratepayer Protection Act passed the House with bipartisan support.

NBC News - The legislation aims to shield consumers from higher energy costs associated with data centers.

WHERE:

Bloomberg - A proposed data center in Clinton, Iowa, by Blackstone-owned QTS would bring nearly $200 million in property taxes in its first 10 years.

Fox News - Loudoun County homeowners save $5,800 a year in property taxes due to data centers, which generate 45% of all local tax revenue on just 3% of land.

NBC News - The House of Representatives

WHEN:

[September 16, 2026 at 7:13 p.m. EDT] - The Washington Post - The House passed the Ratepayer Protection Act.

WHY:

Fox News - Hawley emphasized that data centers do not need welfare as they are wealthy companies, calling their access to tax breaks a form of "corporate welfare."

Fox News - Hawley stated, "These data centers have figured out a way that they think that they can access all of this money," emphasizing that they do not need welfare as they are wealthy companies.

Fox News - Hawley argues that the tax loophole is being exploited by tech companies as "corporate welfare" to build data centers in low-income areas.

CBS News - Lawmakers are facing increasing pressure to respond to the data center boom driven by the AI race.

Fox News - The bill aims to prevent data center energy costs from raising electric bills for families.

NBC News - There is pressure to act on the unpopular impact of data centers on energy costs.

HOW:

Fox News - Since the Opportunity Zones tax breaks were established, 8,746 Opportunity Zones have been created in the U.S., with nearly half located in rural areas targeted for data center construction.

Fox News - Since the passage of the Opportunity Zones tax breaks, 8,746 Opportunity Zones have been established in the U.S., with nearly half located in rural areas targeted by tech companies for data center construction.

Fox News - The Opportunity Zones tax breaks were first approved by Congress as part of Trump’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 and were made permanent last year.

Fox News - The legislation was passed with bipartisan support, indicating cooperation between both parties in Congress.

(UPDATED September 17, 2026 20:59 UTC)

Senator Josh Hawley from Missouri has raised concerns that tech companies are exploiting tax loopholes in Opportunity Zones to build data centers, which he argues should not receive welfare since they are already wealthy. In response to rising concerns about the impact of these data centers on energy costs, the Ratepayer Protection Act has been introduced to prevent increased electric bills for families. Meanwhile, a proposed data center in Clinton, Iowa, by Blackstone-owned QTS is projected to generate nearly $200 million in property taxes over its first decade.

(UPDATED September 17, 2026 19:59 UTC)

Senator Josh Hawley from Missouri is set to introduce legislation aimed at closing a tax loophole that he claims tech companies are exploiting through data centers. His bill would prevent these data centers from benefiting from tax cuts associated with Opportunity Zones, which he refers to as "corporate welfare." Hawley argues that with 8,746 Opportunity Zones established across the U.S., many in rural areas, these wealthy companies do not require additional financial support.

(UPDATED September 17, 2026 19:00 UTC)

Senator Josh Hawley from Missouri is set to introduce legislation aimed at closing a tax loophole that allows data centers to benefit from tax cuts related to Opportunity Zones. His bill would specifically exclude these data centers from accessing those tax breaks, which he claims are being misused by tech companies as a form of "corporate welfare" in low-income areas. The Opportunity Zones tax incentives were originally approved by Congress as part of Trump’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 and were made permanent last year.

(UPDATED September 17, 2026 17:58 UTC)

In a significant move, the House has passed bipartisan legislation aimed at protecting consumers from rising energy costs associated with AI data centers in their communities. This legislation is designed to address concerns about the financial impact of these facilities on local residents. Supporters believe it will help ensure that energy prices remain manageable as technology continues to evolve.

(UPDATED September 17, 2026 15:59 UTC)

The House has passed the Ratepayer Protection Act, receiving overwhelming bipartisan support. While the bill aims to provide relief, it is unlikely to result in immediate price reductions for consumers. This significant legislative move was reported by The Washington Post shortly after it occurred.

(UPDATED September 17, 2026 13:05 UTC)

The House has passed bipartisan legislation known as the Ratepayer Protection Act, which aims to shield consumers from higher energy costs linked to data centers. In Loudoun County, homeowners are benefiting significantly, saving about $5,800 a year in property taxes thanks to these data centers, which contribute 45% of all local tax revenue while occupying just 3% of the land. This new act is designed to prevent the energy costs from data centers from raising electric bills for families.

(UPDATED September 17, 2026 00:02 UTC)

Lawmakers in the House of Representatives have successfully passed the Ratepayer Protection Act, which aims to protect consumers from rising energy costs linked to data centers. This legislation received bipartisan support, reflecting a collaborative effort between both parties in Congress to address the challenges posed by the growing data center industry. As the demand for data centers surges, driven by advancements in AI, there is increasing pressure on lawmakers to mitigate the impact of these facilities on household energy bills.