Protecting Communities from Data Center Impacts Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9629
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-07-09: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-10T12:53:21Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose The legislation directs the Environmental Protection Agency to commission an independent study on the environmental and public health effects of data centers.
Key Provisions
- The EPA Administrator must seek an agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
- The National Academies will assess data center impacts on noise pollution, air pollution, water consumption and supply, carbon emissions, and waste (including electronic waste).
- The National Academies will also develop recommendations to reduce these impacts.
- A report containing the assessment and recommendations must be submitted to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works within 180 days of the law's enactment.
Significant Changes to Existing Law The bill creates a new, one-time requirement for a federal study and recommendations. It does not amend or repeal any existing statutes.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: The EPA must initiate the agreement, while the National Academies will perform the work and deliver the report.
- Citizens and communities: The study could inform future local or federal decisions about data center siting and operations near residential areas.
- No direct effects on international relations are specified.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Environmental Protection Agency
- National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
- Congressional committees receiving the report
- Data center operators and the technology industry
- Local communities and residents near data centers
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The measure is an administrative directive with no apparent constitutional concerns. It reflects legislative interest in examining the growing resource demands of data centers but does not establish new regulations or enforcement mechanisms.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-07-09: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2026-07-09: Introduced in House
- 2026-07-09: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Protecting Communities from Data Center Impacts Act of 2026 — issued 2026-07-09 — PDF (2 pages)