Data Center Water and Energy Transparency Act of 2026
The source supplies the latest action, but no lifecycle stage.
Latest action (22 Jul 2026): Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
What this bill does
H.R. 9825, the Data Center Water and Energy Transparency Act of 2026, would require operators of large data centers to report their energy and water consumption. Operators of existing data centers with peak demand of 25 megawatts or more would submit annual reports on energy and water use, sources, and efficiency metrics, plus five-year projections and plans to reduce consumption. Similar reports would be required before building new data centers or expanding existing ones above the same 25-megawatt threshold. Reports would normally go to the state where the facility is located; if a state lacks a collection program, operators would instead report to the EPA Administrator and the Secretaries of Energy and Agriculture. States would forward anonymized, aggregated data to federal officials, who would publish an annual national report on data center energy and water use, regional impacts on utility rates, and environmental effects.
The bill primarily affects large data center operators and companies planning new or expanded facilities, as well as state governments, which may set their own reporting rules and fees. Local governments could request access to the reports. Operators reporting directly to federal agencies could face fines of $20,000 per day for negligent violations, adjusted for inflation every three years, and fees to cover administrative costs.
The bill was introduced by Rep. Lauren Underwood on July 22, 2026, and referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. It has not yet been scheduled for committee action, and would need to pass the House, Senate, and be signed by the President to become law.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Timeline
22 Jul 2026
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Common questions
- What does H.R. 9825 do?
- H.R. 9825, the Data Center Water and Energy Transparency Act of 2026, would require operators of large data centers to report their energy and water consumption. Operators of existing data centers with peak demand of 25 megawatts or more would submit annual reports on energy and water use, sources, and efficiency metrics, plus five-year projections and plans to reduce consumption. Similar reports would be required before building new data centers or expanding existing ones above the same 25-megawatt threshold. Reports would normally go to the state where the facility is located; if a state lacks a collection program, operators would instead report to the EPA Administrator and the Secretaries of Energy and Agriculture. States would forward anonymized, aggregated data to federal officials, who would publish an annual national report on data center energy and water use, regional impacts on utility rates, and environmental effects. The bill primarily affects large data center operators and companies planning new or expanded facilities, as well as state governments, which may set their own reporting rules and fees. Local governments could request access to the reports. Operators reporting directly to federal agencies could face fines of $20,000 per day for negligent violations, adjusted for inflation every three years, and fees to cover administrative costs. The bill was introduced by Rep. Lauren Underwood on July 22, 2026, and referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. It has not yet been scheduled for committee action, and would need to pass the House, Senate, and be signed by the President to become law.
- Has H.R. 9825 become law?
- The source does not supply a confirmed lifecycle stage for H.R. 9825. Check the latest action and official source below.
- Who sponsored H.R. 9825?
- H.R. 9825 was sponsored by Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14] (D-IL), with 1 cosponsor.
- What's the latest action on H.R. 9825?
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. (22 Jul 2026).
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