Tracks China and U.S. policy that changes data-center construction, power, interconnection and operating costs. Each brief separates the policy, its status and its direct effect.
Official sourceImplementation statusDirect effectUpdated Ongoing watch
Policy briefs7 policy updates
U.S.
U.S. expands the data-center ratepayer protection pledge
New generation, transmission and interconnection costs
The White House expanded its ratepayer pledge to more than 200 additional utilities, data-center developers, cooperatives and states. Participating projects commit to paying for the generation and grid infrastructure they require.
DIRECT EFFECT
New projects face greater pressure to ring-fence incremental power and grid costs when negotiating service, tariffs and local approvals.
WHO IT AFFECTS
Large data-center developers, hyperscalers, utilities and states
IMPLEMENTATION
Expanded July 23, 2026; not a uniform mandatory tariff
Virginia begins collecting a data-center electricity tax
Power costs, self-generation and consumption reporting
Virginia imposes a $0.011 per kWh tax on electricity consumed by data centers, including self-supplied power. The first collection in September 2026 covers consumption from July onward.
DIRECT EFFECT
Unit power costs rise directly, self-generation is not exempt, and operators must add metering, reporting and tax treatment to operating models.
WHO IT AFFECTS
Data-center operators and electricity suppliers in Virginia
Texas tightens large-load interconnection and cost allocation
ERCOT interconnection, financial commitments and curtailment
SB 6 makes large loads contribute to interconnection costs and requires at least a $100,000 screening fee, site-control evidence and standardized financial commitments. Some new loads must also support emergency curtailment.
DIRECT EFFECT
ERCOT data-center projects must show site control and financial commitment earlier and assume clearer grid-upgrade and reliability obligations.
WHO IT AFFECTS
New and expanding large data-center loads in ERCOT
IMPLEMENTATION
Effective September 1, 2025; transmission-cost rules due by end-2026
U.S. accelerates federal permitting for 100MW-plus AI data centers
Federal land, environmental review and project support
Executive Order 14318 covers AI data centers adding more than 100MW of load and their power, chip, networking and storage components, directing agencies to use FAST-41, federal land and available financial support.
DIRECT EFFECT
Qualifying projects gain a clearer path to coordinated federal review and federal land, but state interconnection, environmental and local permits still apply.
WHO IT AFFECTS
AI data centers above 100MW and their power and equipment projects
Beijing applies differential tariffs to data centers above PUE 1.35
Existing-facility efficiency, green power and retrofit costs
Beijing targets existing data centers using at least 5 million kWh a year and operating above PUE 1.35 for retrofit and differential tariffs, while qualifying efficiency and renewable projects can seek incentives.
DIRECT EFFECT
Electricity above the efficiency limit can face RMB 0.2 or RMB 0.5 per kWh surcharges, creating direct pressure to retrofit inefficient facilities.
WHO IT AFFECTS
Energy-intensive existing data centers and conversion projects in Beijing
IMPLEMENTATION
Applied from 2026 using the prior year's actual PUE
China starts drafting a national compute-carbon-efficiency standard
Compute carbon-efficiency definitions, accounting and assessment
National standards project 20262489-T-467 will define compute carbon efficiency, formulas, accounting methods and assessment procedures across conventional and AI data centers.
DIRECT EFFECT
It does not yet change approvals or tariffs, but could create a common disclosure and third-party assessment framework once published.
WHO IT AFFECTS
Data-center operators, AI computing centers and certification bodies
IMPLEMENTATION
Fifteen-month project; not currently a mandatory requirement
China's green data-center action plan extends through 2030
PUE, utilization, renewable power and hub siting
The action plan directs China to improve data-center siting, utilization and renewable-energy use while upgrading inefficient facilities. Its 2030 objectives cover PUE, compute efficiency, carbon efficiency and heat recovery.
DIRECT EFFECT
New projects are steered toward national hubs and renewable-rich regions, while existing sites face continuing cooling, power and energy-management upgrades.
WHO IT AFFECTS
New and existing data centers and national computing hubs in China
IMPLEMENTATION
The 2025 milestone has passed; 2030 objectives remain