Sen. Tom Cotton has proposed the DATA Act to let data centers build their own “parallel” power grids. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)
The legislation, which aims to beef up the US’s position in the power-hungry AI race without families and small businesses facing higher bills, would allow tech companies to construct private power plants and electrical networks dedicated solely to data centers—effectively bypassing the public grid and many of its regulations.
One big question: How might private companies handle transmission siting and eminent domain without being treated like public utilities?