Data Center Water and Energy Transparency Act of 2026

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.