The House passed its first major artificial intelligence bill Wednesday night, and the vote was lopsided: 417-3.
The Ratepayer Protection Act is designed to make big tech pay for the energy it uses, instead of shifting those costs to American consumers. It requires state public utility commissions to consider federal guardrails for the construction and operation of new data centers and AI centers.
Rep. Gabe Evans, R-Colo., who brought the bill forward, called it a national security measure as well as a cost-saving and consumer protection bill. He said it is meant to protect American data from communist China and keep digital infrastructure in the United States.
Evans said data centers can lower electric rates if they invest in generation, transmission and distribution, and if they can reduce demand during peak hours. He also said the bill screens out bad actors and gives companies a path to build digital infrastructure in the U.S.
The bill is framed around a simple question: who pays for the digital buildout powering AI? House Republicans and many Democrats voted to say ratepayers should not be the ones left holding the bag.
Why it matters: The fight over AI is no longer just about innovation. It is also about who bears the cost of the grid buildout, whether local communities get paid, and whether taxpayer money and utility bills get pushed higher by private projects.