U.S. Senators Josh Hawley and Elizabeth Warren have intensified scrutiny on data centres and their energy consumption by sending a letter to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). They are advocating for mandatory annual reporting on energy usage by these centres, emphasising that escalating electricity demands necessitate reliable data to enhance grid planning and oversight.
In their correspondence, which was shared with TechCrunch, the senators highlighted the urgent need for standardised information, pointing to a rise in electricity demand following a period of stagnation. This initiative aligns with legislative efforts announced by Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who seek to freeze new data centre constructions until clearer regulations on AI are established.
Energy consumption by data centres has surged dramatically, with Google’s facilities reportedly doubling their energy use from 2020 to 2024. Projections indicate that new data centres could nearly triple energy demands by 2035, raising concerns about the sustainability of energy resources.
The EIA, which acts as a government body for energy data analysis akin to a Census bureau for the energy sector, has historically collected comprehensive data on energy consumption in the U.S. It primarily categorises this information into broad sectors: residential, commercial, industrial, and transportation. The senators, however, are pushing for more detailed insights into data centres, specifically differentiating energy consumption between AI computing tasks and standard cloud services.
Hawley and Warren’s requests include detailed statistics on energy loads — hourly, annual, and peak — as well as the rates paid by companies. They are also interested in how grid modifications necessitated by new large loads are financed and whether data centre clients engage in demand response programmes wherein utilities incentivise substantial users to reduce consumption temporarily.
The senators addressed EIA administrator Tristan Abbey in their letter, referencing his prior statement that the agency would play a crucial role in gathering data on energy demands from data centres. They have set a deadline for the EIA to respond by April 9.
While it appears that the EIA may already be initiating relevant processes, no official announcements have been made to confirm this. Any alterations to the EIA’s data collection methods would require public commentary as per the Office of Management and Budget guidelines.
Abbey has noted that while requests for analyses are common, new product development occurs less frequently, citing a two-year timeline to launch a new survey. He mentioned that there are existing authorities allowing for expedited surveys, which could provide quicker insights into data centre energy use without adhering to the lengthy development process.
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