Washington is rushing to clear the way for AI data centers just as voters are pushing back

A bipartisan Senate bill could reach a procedural vote as soon as November 9, opening the door to faster approval of power lines, pipelines and other infrastructure needed for the AI data-center boom. The 417-page American Affordability and Jobs Act would rewrite parts of federal environmental reviews and speed up transmission projects. It also requires data centers with at least 20 megawatts of capacity to cover additional costs rather than pass them to other electricity customers. The timing is striking: voters just delivered a political warning. CBS exit polls found majorities opposed to new data centers in their communities, including in key Senate battleground states. AP reports that voters approved restrictions in 44 of 45 completed local referendums, while newly elected officials are promising tighter rules. Washington is trying to accelerate construction while communities are demanding more control over whether these projects get built.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/5653

https://www.theverge.com/policy/1028228/energy-infrastructure-permitting-reform-bill-congress-vote

https://bipartisanpolicy.org/explainer/explaining-the-senate-permitting-bill-the-bipartisan-american-affordability-and-jobs-act/