Instructs the Secretary of Energy to designate a National Laboratory to study the impact of artificial intelligence and data center site growth on U.S. energy supply resources. Requires the study to determine if infrastructure updates are necessary to support AI and data center co-location. Assesses alternative energy sources for co-located sites and evaluates impacts on energy costs, supply, and reliability. Evaluates deficiencies in energy supply resources. Explores expedited reviews and permitting for AI and data center sites under the National Environmental Policy Act. Prioritizes studying impacts in remote areas. Mandates a report submission to relevant Congressional committees within 180 days of the Act's enactment. Defines key terms including “artificial intelligence,” “co-location,” “National Laboratory,” and “remote area” according to existing legal definitions.
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Unleashing Low-Cost Rural AI Act
ETO AGORA · U.S. federal laws · 2025
Summary
Instructs the Secretary of Energy to designate a National Laboratory to study the impact of artificial intelligence and data center site growth on U.S. energy supply resources.
Requires the study to determine if infrastructure updates are necessary to support AI and data center co-location.
Assesses alternative energy sources for co-located sites and evaluates impacts on energy costs, supply, and reliability.
Evaluates deficiencies in energy supply resources.
Explores expedited reviews and permitting for AI and data center sites under the National Environmental Policy Act.
Prioritizes studying impacts in remote areas.
Mandates a report submission to relevant Congressional committees within 180 days of the Act's enactment.
Defines key terms including “artificial intelligence,” “co-location,” “National Laboratory,” and “remote area” according to existing legal definitions.
Conducts a study on AI and data center growth's impact on U.S. energy supply resources.
A BILL To conduct a study on the impact of artificial intelligence and data center site growth on energy supply resources in the United States, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. Short title.
This Act may be cited as the “Unleashing Low-Cost Rural AI Act”.
Instructs the Secretary of Energy to study AI and data centers' impacts on U.S. energy resources.
SEC. 2. Study on impact of artificial intelligence and data center site growth on energy supply resources.
(a) In general.—The Secretary of Energy shall designate a National Laboratory to conduct a study on the impact of artificial intelligence and data center site growth on energy supply resources in the United States.
(b) Contents.—The study under subsection (a) shall address the following:
(1) Whether any updates to existing infrastructure are necessary to support the co-location of artificial intelligence and data center site development.
(2) With respect to the co-location of artificial intelligence and data center sites, the feasability of using alternative sources of energy, such as hydroelectric dams, solar farms, wind farms, solar and wind battery storage sites, and carbon capture facilities, in addition to nuclear and geothermal sources of energy.
(3) The impact of the co-location of artificial intelligence and data center sites on energy costs, energy supply, energy supply reliability, land-use, water-use, and cost to consumers.
(4) Whether, and to what extent, there are deficiencies in energy supply resources.
(5) The means to expedite any review under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) or to more expeditiously meet any permitting requirements to develop any artificial intelligence or data center sites, and any associated generation, transmission, and distribution assets.
Requires the Secretary of Energy to report on AI and data center impacts on energy in remote areas.
(c) Prioritization.—The study under subsection (a) shall prioritize the impact of artificial intelligence and data center site growth on energy supply resources in remote areas.
(d) Report.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on the findings of the study conducted under subsection (a).
Defines terms including artificial intelligence, co-location, National Laboratory, and remote area for regulatory purposes.
(e) Definitions.—In this section:
(1) ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.—The term “artificial intelligence” has the meaning given such term in section 5002 of the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act of 2020 (15 U.S.C. 9401).
(2) CO-LOCATION.—The term “co-location” means, with respect to an artificial intelligence or data center site, placing such site upon a parcel of land that is owned and operated by a public utility.
(3) NATIONAL LABORATORY.—The term “National Laboratory” has the meaning given such term in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801).
(4) REMOTE AREA.—The term “remote area” means an area for which the Economic Research Service of the Department of Agriculture has developed a frontier and remote area code.