A coalition of 15 conservative and libertarian organizations is urging the Senate to pass the DATA Act of 2026 and deregulate off-grid power for AI. (R Street)
The legislation would create a new category of "Consumer-Regulated Electric (CRE) Utilities" that are physically islanded from the grid, exempting them from FPA and PURPA regulations to allow for faster deployment.
With the main grid pushed to the brink by renewables and retirements, the signatories argue AI data centers need a parallel path for power that offers "permissionless innovation" without passing costs or risks to ratepayers.