Cortez Masto Statement on Vote Against H.R. 9340

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement after her vote against H.R. 9340, the Ratepayer Protection Act, led in the Senate by Jon Husted (R-Ohio).

"I have the same concerns many Nevadans do about the influx of data centers in our communities. I believe that before any data center moves forward, it should have the support of the local community, should be built with union labor, should pay for necessary grid upgrades while prioritizing clean power, and it shouldn't waste water or raise energy costs for residents.

"In the Senate, there are a number of bills to protect American families from data center-related energy cost spikes, including Senator Heinrich's GRID Savings Act, which I support. Senator Husted could have joined Democrats on legislation with real teeth that would force data centers to pay for grid upgrades and ensure costs aren't passed along to the consumer. Instead, Republican leadership, in an election year stunt, chose to push forward on a bill with only voluntary, ineffective language that won't hold anyone accountable."

Senator Cortez Masto is a cosponsor of Senator Martin Heinrich's (D-N.M.) GRID Savings Act. Instead of the Ratepayer Protection Act's voluntary framework, the GRID Savings Act would require large load customers-like data centers-to pay for the facilities needed to connect them to the grid. Cortez Masto is also the cosponsor of legislation led by Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) to demand more transparency from data centers by requiring them to clearly disclose their energy and water usage.

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