Representatives Blake Moore (R-UT) and Jim Costa (D-CA) have introduced a bill that calls for a federal study on the impact of artificial intelligence data center expansions in rural America. The proposed legislation, called the Unleashing Low-Cost Rural AI Act, would require the U.S. Departments of Energy, Interior, and Agriculture to examine how these centers affect energy supply, reliability, and utility costs.
“As a leader in both tech and energy innovation, Utah is a prime location for data centers and AI infrastructure. Cementing our role as an innovation hub will require identifying rural areas ready for data expansion, streamlining permitting for new energy projects, and promoting the co-location of data centers with energy facilities,” Rep. Moore said. “These efforts will power our growing digital demands without passing costs on to families. I’m grateful to partner with Representative Costa to introduce the Unleashing Low-Cost Rural AI Act to identify other areas of the country, like Utah, that will advance solutions to meet our energy needs.”
“AI Data Centers are expanding rapidly and using more energy and water than entire cities. That energy demand is driving up utility costs for consumers,” Rep. Jim Costa said. “My legislation ensures we take a hard look at how this growth impacts rural communities that are powering the AI industry, and make sure families aren’t left paying the price.”
The bill comes amid concerns over rising consumer utility bills attributed to increased electricity use by large-scale data operations supporting artificial intelligence technology. According to PJM—one of the largest regional transmission organizations in the United States—data centers have contributed approximately $9.3 billion in additional costs for ratepayers across 13 states from Illinois to Washington, D.C.
The legislation directs federal agencies not only to assess which rural regions are suitable for future technological investments but also to evaluate options for modernizing local power infrastructure. This includes reviewing renewable sources such as solar or wind power along with nuclear plants, geothermal resources, hydroelectric dams, battery storage systems, and carbon capture technologies.
Blake Moore has served as U.S. Representative for Utah’s 1st District since 2021 after succeeding Rob Bishop (https://moore.house.gov/about). He was born in Ogden in 1980 and resides in Salt Lake City; he graduated from the University of Utah in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree.
