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HR 9183

Artificial Intelligence Environmental Impacts Act of 2026

119th Congress Introduced by Alma Adams and 4 co-sponsors

The bill would require an EPA study of AI data centers’ environmental impacts, plus a NIST AI environmental impacts consortium and an EPA AI impact reporting system.

Introduced in House
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HR 9183

Overview

HR 9183 (Session 119) is a proposed federal bill that would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to study the environmental impacts of artificial intelligence (AI) data centers and related energy infrastructure. It also tasks the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to convene an environmental impacts consortium and directs the EPA to develop a reporting system for environmental impacts associated with AI. The bill has at least one co-sponsor (Nanette Barragán) and has been referred to the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee and the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Primary purpose

  • To assess and characterize the environmental effects of AI data centers and the energy systems that support them.
  • To establish collaborative efforts and reporting mechanisms to better understand and communicate environmental impacts related to AI technologies.

Key provisions and changes

  1. EPA study on environmental impacts

    • Requires the EPA Administrator to carry out a study examining the environmental impacts of AI data centers and the accompanying energy infrastructure.
    • The study would identify concerns such as energy use, emissions, water use, land use, and other ecological effects associated with AI data centers and their power and cooling needs.

  2. NIST AI environmental impacts consortium

    • Requires the Director of NIST to convene a consortium focused on the environmental impacts of AI and associated energy infrastructure.
    • The consortium would likely bring together stakeholders from government, industry, academia, and other experts to assess, share data, develop best practices, and inform policy considerations.

  3. EPA environmental reporting system for AI impacts

    • Directs the EPA to develop and implement a reporting system to track and report environmental impacts related to AI.
    • The system would aim to standardize data collection, reporting requirements, and public transparency regarding AI data center energy use and related environmental metrics.

Who would be affected

  • Federal agencies: EPA and NIST would implement study, convening, and reporting activities.
  • AI data center operators and energy providers: Potentially affected by new data collection, reporting requirements, and any subsequent policy recommendations or standards that arise from the study and consortium findings.
  • Researchers and industry stakeholders: Would have opportunities to participate in the NIST consortium and contribute to developing environmental impact data and best practices.
  • General public and policymakers: Enhanced transparency around the environmental footprint of AI infrastructure.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduction and referral: Introduced in the House and referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the Committee on Energy and Commerce for consideration of provisions within their jurisdictions.
  • Actions to date: As of the action history, the bill has been introduced and referred to committees; no further timeline details (e.g., reporting deadlines, study duration) are provided in the summary available.
  • Potential next steps: If advanced, committees may hold hearings, develop amendments, and report the bill to the full House for consideration. The study, consortium, and reporting system would be designed with specific deliverables and timelines during legislative markup.

Notes for readers

  • The bill focuses on environmental accountability and information-sharing surrounding AI data centers rather than defining or regulating AI itself.
  • Specific quantitative targets (e.g., emission thresholds, data reporting formats, or scope) are not detailed in the provided summary and would likely be fleshed out in committee deliberations or future amendments.
  • The exact funding, enforcement mechanisms, and implementation responsibilities would be determined through the bill’s text, committee reports, and any enacted language.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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