
September 30th, 2026
A Senate bill about data centers and energy costs did not pass on Wednesday.
It needed 60 votes.
It got 57 votes.
43 senators voted no.
Lawmakers then left Washington.
They will campaign before the midterms.
The bill would tell utility regulators to think about a federal rule.
Under the rule, big power customers would pay more.
Their money would cover system upgrades for them.
Democrats called the rule just a suggestion.
They said more is needed.
Republicans said it tells regulators to act.
The sponsor is Republican Sen. Jon Husted of Ohio.
He faces a hard reelection fight.
His Democratic challenger is former Sen. Sherrod Brown.
Brown calls him the "face of data centers" in campaign ads.
Husted told reporters the bill was the only way.
It shows voters whose side lawmakers are on.
The bill passed the House 417-3.
But it needed at least seven Democratic senators to move forward.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer called the bill "a fraud, plain and simple."
Democrats have offered other plans.
Sen. Martin Heinrich of New Mexico sponsored a bill.
It tells the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to make mandatory rules.
The rules are for large electricity customers.
Schumer said Democrats want the rule to be mandatory.
He said Republicans want it to be optional.
About 6 in 10 Americans support limiting new data centers.
A majority worry about their impact on electricity prices and water supplies.
September 30th, 2026

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