{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://carson.house.gov/media/press-releases/carson-introduces-bill-stop-surprise-ai-data-center-developments", "Carson Introduces Bill to Stop Surprise AI Data Center Developments", "2026-04-27", "2026", "2026-04", "Democrat", "House", "IN", "Andr\u00e9 Carson", "C001072", "carson.house.gov", "carson", "https://carson.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Andr\u00e9 Carson (IN-07), Congresswoman LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), and Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (NC-04) have introduced the AI Data Center Site Selection Transparency Act of 2026, a bill that would ensure communities are informed, before deals are finalized, of plans to build AI data centers in their neighborhoods, providing the opportunity for grassroots input. AI data center construction often leads to higher utility costs, strained infrastructure, and environmental damage. This bill will empower residents to shape the future of their communities.\n\n\u201cData centers are often shrouded in mystery, with plans moving forward before meaningful public input. Our bill will change that, requiring data centers to be transparent. Neighborhoods have to deal with the consequences of data centers \u2013 and so neighborhood input should be central, not an afterthought,\u201d said Rep. Andr\u00e9 Carson.\n\n\u201cWhen communities are denied information, they are denied a voice,\u201d said Rep. McIver. \u201cYour energy bills shouldn\u2019t skyrocket because a developer snuck an AI data center into your neighborhood without giving you the opportunity to speak out. No corporation should be able to change the fabric of a community and leave its residents to absorb the costs. That\u2019s why I\u2019m introducing this bill to demand transparency so residents have a real say in what\u2019s happening in their community.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur communities, especially Black and Brown communities, are feeling the impacts of rapid AI data center growth, from environmental harm and water stress to rising electricity costs,\u201d said Rep. Valerie Foushee. \u201cThese facilities can consume as much energy as entire cities and place significant strain on local resources, yet too often communities are left out of decisions that directly affect their health, environment, and economic stability. I\u2019m proud to introduce this legislation alongside my Congressional Black Caucus colleagues, Rep. McIver and Rep. Carson, and I will continue to pursue policies that strengthen transparency and establish clear safeguards to protect our communities and environment from harmful impacts.\u201d\n\n\u201cAI data centers have massive impacts on energy use, water consumption, and cumulative health burdens, and industry often hides this information from communities during the proposal and development process. The AI Data Center Site Selection Transparency Act of 2026 advances much needed transparency that will reduce power imbalances between developers and communities. In particular, it addresses industry\u2019s practice of hiding the true impacts of data centers behind the cloak of nondisclosure agreements and serves to give communities the knowledge and time to meaningfully react to proposed data center build-outs,\u201d said Bryan Dunning, Senior Policy Analyst, Center for Progressive Reform.\n\n\u201cPeople have the right to know what\u2019s being built in their communities and how it may affect their resources and energy bills. As data centers expand at an unprecedented pace, the public needs policies that ensure full transparency and public disclosure around data center development, water usage, and environmental impact,\u201d said Marc Yaggi, Chief Executive Officer, Waterkeeper Alliance. \u201cCommunity members deserve sustainable innovation, accountability at all levels, and clear, accessible information.\u201d\n\n\u201cCongresswoman McIver gets everything right with this comprehensive bill demanding transparency by data center developers to communities surrounding these proposed projects,\u201d said Public Citizen Climate Program. \u201cUp to now, impacted communities are the last to know that their energy bills will multiply, water may be polluted, and residents' health may be threatened when data center developers work behind the scenes lobbying elected officials, especially at the state and local levels. With the AI Data Center Site Selection Transparency Act, developers must give communities ample advance notice of their plans to build, disclose key impacts, and most importantly this bill prevents backroom deal making between those developers and elected officials by restricting the use of NDAs. Congresswoman McIver is standing up for every single community from New Jersey to Hawaii, Texas to Maine that deserves an even shake when data centers come to town.\n\n\u201cEnvironmental justice demands transparency as a fundamental prerequisite to ensuring communities are adequately represented in decision making processes. Transparency is even more important now, as we increasingly see the undemocratic practice of companies using non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) that intentionally keep communities in the dark about unpopular data center projects being proposed in backyards,\u201d said Yosef Robele, Federal Policy Manager, WE ACT for Environmental Justice. \u201cThese projects increase utility bills, worsen air and water pollution, and further reliance on fossil fuels. The AI Data Selection Transparency Act is an important step in promoting transparency and community involvement for projects that have detrimental impacts on host communities.\u201d\n\n\u201cFamilies deserve real notice and clear information about how massive AI data centers could affect their daily lives\u2014from electricity bills to water use and neighborhood health. This legislation ensures people, not corporations, have a real say, with transparent, accessible details and enough time to get involved before decisions are made. We thank Rep. McIver for championing accountability and putting people and their communities first when it comes to data center development,\u201d said Matthew Davis, Vice President of Federal Policy, League of Conservation Voters.\n\n\u201cThe AI Data Center Site Selection Transparency Act would establish important consumer protections for impacted communities,\u201d said Jenifer Bosco, Managing Director of Energy Advocacy, National Consumer Law Center. \u201cThis bill stops data center developers from shrouding their actions in secrecy by requiring public analysis of the environmental impact and drain on a communities' resources.\u201d\n\nThe AI Data Center Site Selection Transparency Act of 2026 would:\n\nRequire developers to publicly disclose proposed AI data center locations at least 180 days before any definitive step toward development, giving communities time to organize and respond.\n\nRequire outreach through local media, social media, direct mail, and on-site signage so residents are actually informed\u2014not just technically notified.\n\nRequire multilingual, accessible materials so all affected communities can meaningfully participate.\n\nRequire disclosure of electricity use, water consumption, cooling demands, and environmental impacts, backed by an independent, third-party analysis funded by the developer.\n\nHold all developers, owners, and operators jointly responsible for accurate and complete disclosure.\n\nRestrict the use of non-disclosure agreements with public entities to prevent companies from hiding impacts from communities.\n\nTreat violations as unfair or deceptive practices under the Federal Trade Commission Act.\n\nThe bill is endorsed by: the League of Conservation Voters, People & Pollinators Action Network (PPAN), WE ACT for Environmental Justice, the Center for Progressive Reform, Public Citizen, the Waterkeeper Alliance, and the National Consumer Law Center.\n\nFull text of the AI Data Center Site Selection Transparency Act of 2026 can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-27T21:44:12Z", "2026-06-27T22:19:40Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://carson.house.gov/media/press-releases/carson-introduces-bill-stop-surprise-ai-data-center-developments"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 7.5479368679225445, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}