Washington, D.C. – Later today, Senate Democrats will vote and successfully kill the Ratepayer Protection Act, a toothless bill that would have mandated nothing to rein in the skyrocketing energy costs for everyday Americans caused by unfettered AI data center build-out.

In preparation, Food & Water Action’s Deputy Director Mitch Jones has issued the following statement:

“It’s no surprise that Senate leadership tried to pass a do-nothing bill in a cynical attempt to provide political cover for Republicans who will soon face the wrath of voters fed up with an out-of-control AI industry and the data centers powering it. Credit to Senate Democrats for heeding the call from everyday Americans to finally stand up to Big Tech oligarchs – if only in this modest way.

“When Congress returns, it must take legitimate, meaningful action to protect all Americans from the skyrocketing electric bills and scores of other harms being inflicted by this runaway industry and its political backers.”

In a letter facilitated by Food & Water Watch sent to Congress in June, more than 200 advocacy organizations from across the country called for rejection of the Ratepayer Protection Act. Earlier that month, more than 520 organizations from 48 states called for the enactment of a full nationwide moratorium on the approval and construction of new hyperscale data centers.