Data Center Community Impact Act

The Data Center Community Impact Act would require the Secretary of Energy to conduct a study on how data centers affect communities of color and low-income communities, including impacts on water and energy use, air quality, public health, land use, jobs, tax revenue, and property values. The study would be conducted in coordination with federal agencies such as the EPA, Department of Commerce, FERC, and the Council on Environmental Quality, and must include consultation with local governments and Indian Tribes. Within 18 months of enactment, the Secretary must submit a report to Congress with findings, a map of data center locations relative to affected communities, and recommendations for federal coordination and best practices to mitigate harms. The bill defines key terms such as "community of color," "low-income community," and "data center" to guide the study’s scope.