Artificial Intelligence Environmental Impacts Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Introduced
Summary
Measure and publicly report the environmental and energy impacts of AI data centers. This bill would create a federal framework to study those impacts, set standardized measurements and reporting rules, and require annual public disclosures on energy, water, emissions, and electronic waste for large AI operations.
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- Communities and local planners would get public data on energy intensity, water use, air and water quality, noise and light pollution, and e-waste risks. The bill cites projected hyperscale water use of 16 to 33 billion gallons annually by 2028.
- Operators of facilities with peak capacity over 50 megawatts would face annual reporting to the Environmental Protection Agency on resource intensity and verification details, publication of reporting standards, and administrative penalties after 6 months of noncompliance.
- Tribal governments, nearby cities and counties, federal labs, and agencies including the Department of Energy and the National Institute of Standards and Technology would join a NIST-led consortium to develop measurements, open-source tools, and mitigation strategies. EPA and DOE would complete a comprehensive study within 1 year and deliver a follow-up report to Congress within 2 years after standards are set.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
National AI environment study and hearings
If enacted, the EPA would finish a national study on AI's environmental and energy impacts within one year. The study would examine lifecycle energy and water use, air and water quality, ecosystems, noise, hardware manufacture, cooling, and related infrastructure. EPA would include 2-, 5-, and 10-year forecasts from the study date and hold public hearings in each EPA region within one year. The Director of NIST would also convene a stakeholder consortium with equal representation, including at least three tribal and three local community representatives, to recommend measurements, open tools, and mitigation ideas.
New reporting rules for AI data centers
If enacted, the bill would define large AI data centers as facilities (or connected sites) with peak power over 50 megawatts that run AI computing at scale. Entities that operate those centers would need to file annual reports to EPA on energy use, resource mix, on-site and backup power, power usage effectiveness, performance per watt, carbon intensity per task, water use, pollution, e-waste lifecycle impacts, and noise and light. EPA would set reporting rules with NIST and DOE, make data public when possible (except protected business information), and require reports be verifiable. If a covered entity files no report within six months of a due date, EPA would seek corrective action and may impose administrative penalties sized by facility size and duration. EPA, DOE, and NIST would submit a joint report to Congress within two years after the reporting rules are finished.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
MA • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]
MD • D
Sponsored 6/9/2026
Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
OR • D
Sponsored 6/9/2026
Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
NJ • D
Sponsored 6/9/2026
Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT]
VT • D
Sponsored 6/9/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov