Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Derrick Van Orden voted YES on the bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act, legislation to protect hardworking families and small businesses from being forced to pay for the massive energy infrastructure needed to power data centers.
H.R. 9340 requires state utility regulators to consider standards ensuring large-load customers cover the full incremental costs of generation, transmission, and distribution upgrades needed to serve their growing energy demands
“Wisconsin families shouldn’t be stuck paying higher utility bills to subsidize massive energy demands, including from data centers,” said Congressman Derrick Van Orden. “If a company needs massive amounts of power, Wisconsin families shouldn’t be left holding the bill. This legislation makes sure those costs are borne by the companies driving that demand, not hardworking families.”
Van Orden has made clear that any data center development in Wisconsin must meet his non-negotiables: local buy-in, protecting productive farmland, protecting our water, building on existing infrastructure, and ensuring Wisconsin families and ratepayers are not forced to foot the bill.
Today’s vote on the Ratepayer Protection Act reinforces that commitment