Image Credit: TN General Assembly
Tennessee Conservative News Staff –
The Tennessee Senate voted unanimously to pass legislation that would require artificial intelligence (AI) data centers that use fifty-plus megawatts in their first three years of operation to pay for their own infrastructure or improvements.
Senate Bill 2128 (SB2128), sponsored by State Senator Brent Taylor (R-Memphis-D31), would aim to prevent power companies from unfairly raising the price of electricity.
The Senate substituted House Bill 1847 (HB1847), sponsored by State Representative Ed Butler (R-Rickman-D41).
The legislation prohibits the costs associated with building a new data center or upgrading electrical infrastructure of a center from being absorbed or subsidized by a municipal or electric utility except in limited circumstances. In the event that upgrades also benefit ratepayers, utilities may share the cost with a data center.
The House version of the bill was passed on Tuesday, April 21, with 76 ayes, 14 nays, and 1 present not voting.
