WASHINGTON, D.C., (Rocktown Now) — The House of Representatives passed the Ratepayer Protection Act yesterday that would require state utility regulators to consider adopting rules that would make data centers pay the full cost of energy infrastructure upgrades needed to meet immense energy demand.

The bill would also protect ratepayers from rising costs.

6th District Congressman Ben Cline said in a statement that data centers are disrupting rural lives and supports local governments that are taking action to prevent them from moving into the community.

“Working families, small businesses, and farmers should not have to shoulder the cost of the increasingly massive demand from data centers on our power grid,” said Rep. Cline.“Data centers disrupt our rural way of life, and I support local governments that are taking action to prevent these behemoths from moving into our rural communities. The Ratepayer Protection Act will hold data centers accountable for the cost of new energy infrastructure. Taxpayers’ hard-earned money should go to supporting local families and investing in small businesses, not supporting data centers and big tech companies.”