NC House passes data center regulation bill
The bipartisan measure would make developers pay for grid upgrades and limit water use as lawmakers cite rising electricity demand.
- On Wednesday, the North Carolina House of Representatives passed the Ratepayer Protection Act by a 69-44 vote, requiring data center developers to cover grid expansion and transmission upgrade costs.
- Lawmakers advanced the bill amid rising electricity bills, as Duke Energy seeks an 18% rate hike while data centers consume up to 5 million gallons of water daily, straining power grids.
- Representative Matthew Winslow, R-Franklin, co-chair of the House Energy and Public Utilities committee, said the bill "puts our families and small businesses first by making data centers pay their fair share" and strengthens grid reliability.
- Environmental advocates raised concerns: Will Scott of the Environmental Defense Fund warned the bill could delay coal plant retirements, while Anita Moore of the Haw River Assembly urged stricter oversight of water contamination.
- Senate Bill 730 now returns to the North Carolina Senate for further consideration, as communities across the state continue reviewing local data center development policies amid growing industry interest.
15 Articles
15 Articles
NC House passes Ratepayer Protection Act
The North Carolina House passed Senate Bill 730, the Ratepayer Protection Act, advancing legislation to protect electric customers from higher costs linked to new energy demand from large data centers. The House passed SB 730 with a vote of 69-44, after adopting an amendment. The bill now goes back to the Senate for approval and, if passed, to the governor. House Energy and Public Utilities Co-Chair Matthew Winslow, R-Franklin, said the bill is …
NC House passes data center regulation bill
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — The North Carolina House on Wednesday passed a sweeping bill that would regulate large data centers and make changes to state energy policy. The Ratepayer Protection Act (SB 730) would require large data centers to pay for their own infrastructure and energy. It would also require them to conduct environmental reviews [...]
Winston-Salem Journal
News & RecordNC House clears bill that adds restrictions to current, future data centers
According to a legislative staff analysis of the bill, data centers must contractually cover all new infrastructure and energy costs "so they don't shift them to ratepayers." The bill also blocks foreign adversary ownership, prohibits imminent domain and ends new…
NC House passes bill to crack down on data centers, fast-track nuclear power
The artificial intelligence arms race has created a need for more data centers, and tech companies are increasingly looking to certain states, including North Carolina, where power and land are relatively cheap.
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