Clean Cloud Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 6179
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Environmental Protection
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-11-20: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-02-23T16:03:36Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose The Clean Cloud Act of 2025 amends the Clean Air Act to require annual collection of electricity consumption data from large data centers and cryptomining facilities, establish greenhouse gas emissions performance standards for their power use, and impose fees on emissions exceeding regional baselines. The goal is to increase transparency about energy sources and reduce associated carbon emissions.
Key Provisions
- Definitions: Applies to "covered facilities" (data centers or cryptomining facilities with over 100 kilowatts of installed IT nameplate power). Defines terms such as cryptomining facility, data center, electric utility, and geographic "region" based on Department of Energy studies.
- Data Collection: Requires the EPA Administrator, working with the Energy Information Administration, to annually collect detailed information from facility owners (location, ownership, total electricity use, behind-the-meter generation sources, power purchase agreements) and serving utilities (grid consumption, resource mix, rates). Certain consumption data is treated as confidential business information.
- Emissions Performance Standard: Establishes declining regional baselines for greenhouse gas emissions intensity (starting in 2026 and reaching zero by 2035). Facilities must report intensity for grid and behind-the-meter power.
- Fee Structure: Beginning in 2026, assesses fees ($20 per excess metric ton of CO2-equivalent per kWh, adjusted annually for inflation plus $10) on utilities for grid-supplied power and on facility owners for behind-the-meter generation exceeding the baseline. Fees do not apply to fully zero-carbon powered facilities. Utilities may not pass fees to non-covered customers.
- Fund Allocation: Directs collected fees (after 3% for administration) to grants for residential energy cost relief (25%) and research, development, and deployment of zero-carbon firm generation or long-duration storage (70%), with certification and clawback requirements.
- Leased Facilities: Treats tenants as owners for leased covered spaces.
- Severability: Ensures the remainder of the Act remains in effect if any provision is found unconstitutional.
Significant Changes to Existing Law This legislation adds a new Section 139 to Part A of Title I of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.). It introduces mandatory reporting and emissions-based fees specific to data centers and cryptomining operations, which are not addressed under current Clean Air Act provisions. It also creates new federal grant and loan programs funded by these fees.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases responsibilities for the EPA and Energy Information Administration in annual data collection, baseline setting, fee assessment, and grant administration.
- Citizens: May lead to higher electricity rates for data centers and cryptomining but includes protections against pass-through to residential customers and funding for consumer cost-offset programs.
- International Relations: Primarily domestic; may indirectly affect global cryptocurrency markets by raising costs for U.S.-based operations, which currently hold a significant share of Bitcoin mining.
- Environment: Aims to accelerate the shift toward lower-emission power sources for high-energy computing activities.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Owners and operators of data centers and cryptomining facilities (including tenants in leased spaces).
- Electric utilities serving these facilities.
- Federal agencies (EPA, Energy Information Administration, Department of Energy).
- State, tribal, and municipal governments eligible for grants.
- Residential electricity consumers (through cost-relief programs and rate protections).
- Developers of clean firm energy and storage technologies.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The bill includes an explicit severability clause to preserve the Act if portions are invalidated. Fees are structured as regulatory assessments rather than taxes, which may raise questions about administrative authority under the Clean Air Act. Politically, the legislation targets the rapid growth of energy-intensive cryptocurrency mining and data centers, responding to concerns about fossil fuel plant restarts and lack of transparency in energy sourcing.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (9)
Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14], Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4], Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10], Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7], Rep. Morrison, Kelly [D-MN-3], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5], Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1], Rep. Olszewski, Johnny [D-MD-2]
Recent Actions
- 2025-11-20: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2025-11-20: Introduced in House
- 2025-11-20: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Clean Cloud Act of 2025 — issued 2025-11-20 — PDF (30 pages)