Bill > S10642

This bill, known as the "responsible data center development act," imposes a one-year moratorium on issuing permits for large data centers, defined as those with a peak electricity demand of 20 megawatts or more, while also requiring utilities to create a separate service classification for these facilities to ensure their costs are not passed on to other customers. It mandates that utilities establish specific rates and terms for large data centers that cover all associated infrastructure, operational, and administrative costs, including those related to regulatory compliance, and requires them to implement mechanisms to pass on increased commodity prices directly to these data centers. The bill also sets energy efficiency goals for data centers, requiring those with a peak load of 5 megawatts or more to demonstrate increasing percentages of electricity procurement from renewable energy systems by 2040 and to maximize on-site renewable energy generation. Furthermore, it establishes benefits for host communities, requiring new or significantly expanded large data centers to fund programs for installing energy-efficient residential technologies, developing community infrastructure like broadband and water systems, and implementing measures to prevent negative environmental impacts, such as adopting closed-loop cooling systems. Finally, the bill sets labor standards for the construction of data centers with a peak demand capacity of 5 megawatts or more, mandating prevailing wage requirements and the use of apprenticeship or workforce training programs, with specific provisions for iron and steel sourcing.