The Data Center Water and Energy Transparency Act of 2026 requires large data centers to report their annual energy and water consumption to state agencies or federal officials if the state lacks its own reporting program. This mandate applies specifically to facilities with a peak demand of at least 25 megawatts, which must submit details on their usage, efficiency metrics, and five-year projections for reducing resource consumption. The bill also requires operators planning to build new or expand existing facilities to submit similar reports before construction begins. Additionally, the law authorizes states to charge fees for data collection and establishes a federal penalty of $20,000 per day for negligent violations of reporting requirements.
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Data Reporting
The Emergency Mountain Pine Beetle Response Act creates a competitive grant program administered by the U.S. Forest Service to help states, local governments, tribes, and utilities address mountain pine beetle outbreaks. Eligible recipients can receive funding to remove infested trees, process wood, thin forests to reduce fire risk, plant new trees, and stabilize watersheds on National Forest System lands. The law prioritizes projects that protect municipal water supplies, critical infrastructure, and communities located near forests, ensuring that grant funds are distributed quickly to support these emergency restoration efforts.
The Earth MRI Reauthorization Act of 2026 extends funding for the Earth Mapping Resources Initiative through fiscal year 2031. This program, managed by the U.S. Geological Survey, will support the collection and analysis of subsurface data using advanced technologies like modern sensing and digital geochemistry to map critical minerals and geothermal resources. The bill also updates the initiative's scope to include the 3D Hydrography Program and allocates $84 million for operations between 2027 and 2031.
The CURRENT Act modifies the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to streamline how states and federal agencies issue certifications for energy and transmission projects. It requires these agencies to publish clear certification rules, set a strict one-year deadline to decide on requests, and base decisions solely on whether a project will violate specific water quality laws. The bill also mandates that denials or conditions must be supported by clear and convincing evidence showing no reasonable way exists to meet environmental standards, while protecting applicants from having certifications reopened without a court order. Additionally, it establishes a fast-track judicial review process for energy projects, requiring courts to issue final rulings within 120 days.
The RESILIENCE Act of 2026 directs the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to launch a one-year pilot program that trains local government officials on assessing security risks at critical infrastructure facilities. The bill also requires the agency to create clearinghouses where owners and operators of critical infrastructure can access security guidance and best practices developed by the agency or trusted sources. Additionally, the legislation mandates that the agency produce annual public reports detailing its outreach efforts to these infrastructure owners across various regions and sectors. The act clarifies that these new requirements do not exempt the agency from existing federal civil rights laws.
The Carbon Dioxide Removal Leadership Act of 2026 requires the Secretary of Energy to remove increasing amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere annually, starting with 50,000 metric tons in 2026 and rising to 10 million metric tons per year by 2036. To achieve these targets, the government will contract with private entities to perform removals using specific technologies that capture carbon directly from the air or seawater and store it durably, such as in geological formations or building materials. The law mandates strict rules to ensure the removals are genuine and not double-counted, requiring independent third-party verification and setting a price cap that lowers over time to encourage cost reductions. Additionally, the bill prioritizes projects that create domestic jobs, support small businesses, and provide benefits to communities historically affected by fossil fuel industries, while also reserving at least 20 percent of the removals for smaller projects.
The Wildfire Reduction Market Expansion Act of 2026 updates the Clean Air Act to broaden the definition of renewable biomass eligible for carbon credits. It specifically includes wood and paper residuals from manufacturing, as well as trees and shrubs from certified non-Federal lands and public forests used for fuel reduction or ecological restoration. The bill also allows vegetation cleared from defensible space around buildings and wildfire risk reduction projects in the wildland-urban interface to be counted. These changes require specific certifications from landowners or federal agencies to verify that the materials come from sustainable sources and are not suitable for use as sawlogs.
The Data Center Resource Disclosure Act requires operators of data centers in the United States to voluntarily report their annual energy and water usage to the Assistant Secretary of Commerce. These operators must submit the data within 180 days of the law's enactment and every year thereafter. The government will then publish the results on an interactive map, identify facilities that did not provide information, and share feedback from public interest groups. Additionally, the Assistant Secretary must coordinate with other federal agencies and submit a report to Congress with recommendations for improving data center transparency.
The Lowering Energy Costs through Grid Modernization Act encourages utilities to upgrade power lines by replacing old conductors with more efficient ones that carry more electricity and generate less heat. To support these upgrades, the bill allows for faster federal environmental reviews and makes it easier to secure permits for projects that fit within existing land rights. Additionally, the legislation expands a federal tax credit to include these high-performance transmission upgrades, offering a higher credit rate for smaller projects or those meeting specific domestic content requirements.
The No Passes for Polluters Act of 2026 requires Congress to explicitly approve any exemptions from Clean Air Act regulations before the President or federal agencies can use them. Under this bill, the President must submit a detailed message to both houses of Congress explaining the reasons and facts behind any proposed exemption, which then triggers a special legislative process. To pass such an exemption, a joint resolution must be approved by a two-thirds vote in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, with limited debate and no amendments allowed. Additionally, the Comptroller General will review these proposals to ensure they have legal authority, and any unauthorized use of exemptions could lead to civil lawsuits. The legislation also mandates that the President reconsider certain executive branch emissions regulations every three years.
