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119-hr-8241119th CongressWALLET

Power for the People Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Representative Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]

Introduced

Summary

This bill creates a federal framework to manage rapid data‑center electricity growth and protect ratepayers by shifting costs and setting standards. It sets national rules for interconnection, cost allocation, rate design, reliability, and labor for data centers.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.

Make data centers pay local grid costs

If enacted, utilities would have to file tariffs within 120 days to charge local transmission upgrades to the data centers that cause them. States with existing or proposed data centers would have one year to start and two years to finish considering a data‑center utility rate class. The bill would let states and utilities use demand charges, longer contracts, higher interconnection deposits, load‑ramp rules, and contributions‑in‑aid‑of‑construction. The Department of Energy would set up grants and technical help within 180 days.

New rules for data center connections

If enacted, the Commission would require grid operators and utilities to run a data-center load queue and publish more interconnection details. The Commission must issue the rule within 180 days and covered entities must comply within one year. Data centers not already connected could not interconnect after the rule unless they fully advance through the queue. The rule would give priority to projects that meet low‑carbon, storage, or load‑flexibility standards and that meet worker wage and apprenticeship rules.

Prevailing wages and apprenticeship rules

If enacted, the bill would treat contractors who sign certain pre‑hire union contracts or use project labor agreements as meeting prevailing‑wage and registered‑apprenticeship requirements. The Secretary of Labor would have authority to enforce those wage and apprenticeship rules. The deeming of compliance starts when the Commission issues its interconnection rule; Labor enforcement applies on enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]

NY • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14]

    FL • D

    Sponsored 4/9/2026

  • Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]

    TN • D

    Sponsored 4/9/2026

  • Rep. Elfreth, Sarah [D-MD-3]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 4/9/2026

  • Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 4/9/2026

  • Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4]

    NC • D

    Sponsored 4/9/2026

  • Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 4/9/2026

  • Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 4/9/2026

  • Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 4/9/2026

  • Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]

    DC • D

    Sponsored 4/9/2026

  • Rep. Ivey, Glenn [D-MD-4]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 4/9/2026

  • Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 4/9/2026

  • Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 4/9/2026

  • Rep. Mfume, Kweisi [D-MD-7]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 4/9/2026

  • Rep. Olszewski, Johnny [D-MD-2]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 4/9/2026

  • Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 4/9/2026

  • Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 4/9/2026

  • Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 4/20/2026

  • Rep. Escobar, Veronica [D-TX-16]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 4/21/2026

  • Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4]

    MN • D

    Sponsored 4/20/2026

  • Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 4/22/2026

  • Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large]

    VT • D

    Sponsored 4/27/2026

  • Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1]

    ME • D

    Sponsored 4/30/2026

  • Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 6/18/2026

  • Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

  • Rep. McDonald Rivet, Kristen [D-MI-8]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 8/27/2026

  • Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7]

    CO • D

    Sponsored 9/1/2026

  • Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 9/16/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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