Vote Solar is Advocating for Key Policies to Hold Data Centers Accountable
Vote Solar, a leading nonprofit organization advancing bold, state-based policy and regulatory solutions to make solar power more accessible, affordable, and reliable, is advocating for comprehensive data center accountability policies nationwide. These policies would ensure that energy demand from data centers is matched with new clean supply, such as solar paired with storage, keeping electricity affordable and reliable for all.
“New industries shouldn’t drive up costs for working families,” said Sachu Constantine, Vote Solar’s Executive Director. “With policies that hold data centers accountable, we can tie new energy demand to new clean supply— especially fast, scalable resources like solar that can be deployed more quickly and affordably than many traditional power sources.”
Requiring large energy users to invest in new solar and other clean resources helps meet rising demand without triggering costly infrastructure upgrades that drive up rates. Fair rules ensure that growth doesn’t come at the expense of families and communities.
“Community power – rooftop solar, batteries, and smart devices working together across homes and businesses – is the fastest, most cost-effective way to meet surging energy demand from data centers while strengthening grid flexibility and resilience,” said Constantine. “With smart planning now, we can avoid unnecessary grid stress and expensive infrastructure buildout that drives future rate hikes, instead tapping the energy resources already in our communities to deliver reliable power and lower costs for everyone.”
Vote Solar is actively working on data center accountability policies across 9 states: California, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Illinois, Michigan, and Minnesota. For the latest updates on our work, follow our website: votesolar.org
Vote Solar is actively working in state legislatures, where decision makers are working to pass laws that require data centers to bring or pay for their own clean energy—so everyday customers aren’t stuck with the bill:
New Jersey: lawmakers are advancing proposals to make data centers pay the full costs of their energy demand, and to require data centers to bring their own new clean energy.
Illinois & Minnesota: Both states are pushing similar legislation that would require large energy users to fund clean energy, cover grid upgrade costs, and operate more flexibly to reduce strain on the system.
In other states, utilities and regulators are already implementing or negotiating these kinds of protections:
California: Vote Solar is actively participating in the CPUC’s landmark advanced electric rate design rulemaking, which will shape how electricity costs are allocated among residential customers, businesses, and emerging large energy users for years to come. A key priority will be establishing strong data center guardrails to ensure large new electricity loads pay their fair share, bring new clean energy resources to the grid, and do not shift costs onto California households.
Pennsylvania: A new settlement with PPL, a utility with one of the highest levels of data center growth forecasted in the country, would require data centers to commit to long-term contracts, pay upfront for grid upgrades, and contribute funding to low-income energy programs.
Michigan: A major agreement with Google set a strong precedent, requiring the company to fully pay for new clean energy and battery storage to power its data center, instead of shifting costs to customers. The contract signals a commitment to clean energy, but its confidential structure underscores the need for regulatory oversight. Vote Solar is actively working on a regulatory case to ensure real renewable energy investments and community power networks are meaningfully incorporated to deliver benefits to local communities.
Nevada: The ongoing NV Energy Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) will allow us an opportunity to push for more local clean energy solutions to displace data center driven energy demand.
North Carolina: A settlement with Duke Energy led to a “Clean Transition Tariff” that will protect residential customers from the increased energy demands from data centers by requiring them to bring their own power. Separately, the NCUC recently ordered more reporting and transparency on large energy users, laying the groundwork for a future large load tariff.
South Carolina: A 2025 settlement set the stage for a formal investigation into large-load tariffs beginning in 2026, creating an opportunity to establish clearer rules so that major energy users like data centers contribute fairly to grid costs and help protect affordability for residents.
Vote Solar | https://votesolar.org/
