US policymakers and major financial institutions are ramping up scrutiny of the energy demands from artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency data centers. Goldman Sachs projects US data center power demand will rise from 31 GW in 2025 to 41 GW in 2026, and reach 66 GW by 2027. The report, circulated by Filecoin, warns that only 60% of the new capacity expected to come online on time may be ready, underscoring operational risks for energy-reliant computing networks.
The US House is now fast-tracking the bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act, which could be voted on as early as this week. The bill would allow states to require AI data centers consuming over 100 megawatts of energy to finance their own infrastructure development, including new power grids and transmission lines. It would also require states without existing data center rules to hold public hearings and create localized regulations. The legislation was introduced by Rep. Gabe Evans and Rep. Kathy Castor in June, with Evans arguing that “families and small businesses should not be left paying for expansions they did not require.”
The legislative push comes amid EIA forecasts showing US electricity demand rising from 4,195 billion kWh in 2025 to 4,270 billion kWh in 2026 and 4,349 billion kWh in 2027. House Speaker Mike Johnson is expected to bring the act forward under suspension of the rules to expedite passage before the 2026 midterms. Meanwhile, New York Governor Kathy Hochul introduced a framework urging local officials to seek at least $1 million per megawatt in community investments from data center developers, equating to around $50 million for a 50-megawatt facility.
For crypto infrastructure, the debate highlights a split between operators with existing energy access and those that would bear new grid costs. Filecoin, as a decentralized storage network reliant on user-provided storage capacity and stable power sources, may be positioned relatively favorably because its operations are already connected to power. However, the broader sector faces potential cost increases if data center operators are forced to finance their own transmission and generation buildouts.
