Image Credit: TN General Assembly & Canva
The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
With a strong focus on AI regulation in this year’s legislative session, a bill requiring artificial intelligence (AI) data centers to pay for their own infrastructure and improvements will be heard in the House Business & Utilities Subcommittee on Wednesday, Feb. 11.
Sponsored by Rep. Ed Butler (R-Rickman-District 41), HB1847 would require data center owners to pay the “full cost” of any infrastructure needed to support or expand the data center, including utility infrastructure necessary to support the center itself and “continue providing the same services to the utility’s existing customers.”
The proposal would also block AI companies from distributing the costs for expansion or upgrade projects by specifically stating that the cost of infrastructure cannot be paid for “by an entity or individual other than the owner or operator of the data center.”
Additionally, the bill would create protections for utility ratepayers by ensuring electric companies could not raise rates charged to any residential, industrial, or commercial customers due to increased electric demand from a data center. And before imposing any future rate hikes, power companies would have to disclose a public report certifying the increase is not attributed to a data center.
Under the legislation, if a customer believes an electric provider has violated the requirements, they can submit a complaint to the appropriate oversight board.
The Senate companion bill, SB2128, is carried by Sen. Brent Taylor (R-Memphis-District 31) and is currently awaiting a date for the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee.
To contact members of the House Business & Utilities Subcommittee, use the information below:
Rep.Rusty.Grills@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.rush.bricken@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.karen.camper@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.john.ray.clemmons@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.mark.cochran@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.ga.hardaway@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.justin.lafferty@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.michael.lankford@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.dennis.powers@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.kevin.vaughan@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.Rusty.Grills@capitol.tn.gov; Rep.clark.boyd@capitol.tn.gov; rep.rush.bricken@capitol.tn.gov; rep.karen.camper@capitol.tn.gov; rep.john.ray.clemmons@capitol.tn.gov; rep.mark.cochran@capitol.tn.gov; rep.ga.hardaway@capitol.tn.gov; rep.justin.lafferty@capitol.tn.gov; Rep.michael.lankford@capitol.tn.gov; Rep.dennis.powers@capitol.tn.gov; rep.kevin.vaughan@capitol.tn.gov
About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
One Response
Thanx, emailed committee, “Please vote YES!!”