Lawmakers in Washington state are advancing a bill that would require data centers to cover the full cost of connecting to the grid and, in many cases, supply their own newly built zero-emissions power. Similar measures have passed in Oregon and Minnesota, with other states weighing cost-shift protections, transparency requirements, and even temporary moratoria as AI-driven load forecasts climb.

Supporters argue the goal is simple: protect ratepayers and state climate laws from speculative demand and stranded grid investments. Industry groups counter that regulators already have tools to prevent cost shifts and warn that isolating data centers could deter investment, jobs, and future load growth that might otherwise help spread fixed system costs.