Senate 'Four Corners' Push Permit Bill to Power AI Data Centers

A bipartisan quartet of U.S. senators calling themselves the 'Four Corners' has introduced the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act, legislation that would speed federal permits for solar farms, power lines, and oil and gas pipelines to meet surging electricity demand that Fortune reports is driven largely by the data center construction spree. The coalition is Senators Mike Lee (R-Utah), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.).

The bill narrows environmental reviews, makes it harder for presidential administrations to revoke permits once granted, and limits litigation outside federal courts. The Sierra Club argued the legislation weakens the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the Clean Water Act, including 'the ability of states to use state courts to protect their own waterways.'

What is unusual is the alignment. Clean energy and fossil fuel lobbies are backing the compromise jointly. 'The amount of new clean energy, new transmission capacity that's going to be unlocked under this bipartisan-negotiated language is well worth the tradeoffs that are made in other places,' said Ben Norris, senior vice president at the Solar Energy Industries Association. EQT CEO Toby Rice framed it as 'tech-neutral' and added: 'If you think it's hard to get a pipeline built, try building a transmission line.' Rice's company spent a decade building the Mountain Valley Pipeline.

Environmental groups are not persuaded. 'A deal that fast-tracks more gas, closes courthouse doors, and dismantles our laws to further embolden a lawless administration is not a compromise we can afford now,' said Abigail Dillen, president of Earthjustice Action.

The backdrop, per Fortune: 'Power demand is rising at a nearly unprecedented scale—largely, but not entirely, driven by the data center construction spree.' This is the latest entry in a packed beat; we have tracked 454 stories on AI infrastructure over the past 90 days. Votes are unlikely before the November 3 midterm elections.