Senators Demand to Know How Much Energy Data Centers Use

Senators Elizabeth Warren (D) and Josh Hawley (R) have jointly urged the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) to improve transparency and data collection regarding the electricity consumption of data centers. In a letter to the EIA, they emphasize the need for comprehensive, annual energy-use disclosures to enable accurate grid planning and prevent large companies from driving up electricity costs for consumers. This call comes amid growing public concern about the expanding energy demands of data centers, especially in states like Virginia and Georgia, where such concerns have influenced recent elections. Currently, there is no federal mandate requiring data centers to report their energy use, and much of the information remains proprietary or voluntarily disclosed. The rise of behind-the-meter power generation by data centers complicates efforts to track their total electricity consumption. Utilities, which have some data, often face challenges such as double-counting demand due to data centers shopping among multiple utilities. The EIA recently launched a voluntary pilot program to collect energy data from about 200