McClellan Statement on House Passage of Ratepayer Protection Act and Other Bills to Ensure Data Centers Pay Their Fair Share
About Committees and Caucuses Our District Votes and Legislation Contact Email Me Newsletter Subscribe Office Locations Request an Appearance Website Problem Share Your Story Media 2025 in Review 118th Congress in Review In the News Media Kit Newsletters Press Releases Issues Agriculture Armed Services Civil Rights Communications And Technology Congress Economy Education Energy/Environment Health Immigration National Security Repro VA-04 Veterans What Issues Matter To You? Services Art Competition Black History Month Essay Contest Casework Tips! Commendations and Greetings Congressional App Challenge Flags Grant Applicants Help With a Federal Agency Internships Service Academy Nominations Tours and Tickets Valentines for Vets Youth Advisory Council Resources Appropriations Requests Government Shutdown Resources & FAQs Know Your Breastfeeding Rights Know Your Federal Employee Rights Know your Immigration Rights Know Your Reproductive Rights Follow Follow Follow Follow Follow Follow McClellan Statement on House Passage of Ratepayer Protection Act and Other Bills to Ensure Data Centers Pay Their Fair Share September 17, 2026 | Congress , Energy/Environment , Press Releases Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) issued the following statement after the House voted to pass four bills cosponsored by McClellan that will protect residents in the community from rising costs associated with data centers: “In a rapidly growing digital world in which U.S. households have on average 21 devices connected to the Internet, more and more activities from health care delivery to banking are conducted online and AI and other technologies continue to advance, the number of data centers has grown at a more rapid pace than our current electric infrastructure can handle. Consequently, the federal government must play a bigger role in ensuring that the costs to power these data centers do not get passed on to consumers and small businesses. As the data center capital of the globe, Virginia knows this struggle all too well. “I voted in favor of four bills that take a crucial first step in ensuring that the burden of rising energy costs falls on the large-load customers who create increasing demand. These bills begin to move us in the right direction. From the Ratepayer Protection Act’s creation of a standard states can follow to ensure data centers are paying their fair share, to bills that help ensure that companies are not overbuilding data center infrastructure, these policies have earned bipartisan support because they give the federal government the tools they need to begin enforcing fairer outcomes for consumers. “While these bills are an important first step, they do not go far enough to be the last. Congress must also pursue greater transparency and regulation for data center projects, ensure local governments siting these projects coordinate with state and federal regulators that address the impact they have on energy demand and the environment and bring renewable energy sources and battery storage online in a much more significant way. I will continue to advocate for these and other policies that ensure our nation can meet its digital and energy needs without overburdening people, communities and our environment.” McClellan sits on the House Energy & Commerce Committee, where she voted to advance this legislation to the House floor. You can watch her remarks on the Ratepayer Protection Act here . Office Locations Washington D.C. Office 1628 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-6365 Richmond District Office 11 S. 12th Street Suite 401 Richmond, VA 23219 Phone: (804) 486-1840 Brunswick Satellite Office 100 Athletic Field Road Lawrenceville, VA 23868 Phone: (804) 690-5809 10am – 4:30pm — every Thursday, or by appointment Mailing Address: P.O. Box 211 Lawrenceville, VA 23868 Newsletter Signup Sign up for email updates Subscribe Privacy Policy | Accessibility | Terms of Use | House.gov Follow Follow Follow Follow Follow Follow
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