What does Preamble of Artificial Intelligence Environmental Impacts Act of 2026 do?

This bill, formally titled 'To require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to carry out a study on the environmental impacts of artificial intelligence data centers and associated energy infrastructure, to require the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology to convene a consortium on such environmental impacts, and to require the Administrator to develop a reporting system for the reporting of the environmental impacts of artificial intelligence, and for other purposes,' aims to address the environmental consequences of artificial intelligence. The bill mandates a study by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator regarding the environmental impacts of artificial intelligence data centers and their related energy infrastructure. It also directs the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to establish a consortium to examine these environmental impacts. Furthermore, the EPA Administrator is tasked with creating a reporting system for tracking the environmental impacts of artificial intelligence.

What does SHORT TITLE. of Artificial Intelligence Environmental Impacts Act of 2026 do?

This bill is formally titled the Artificial Intelligence Environmental Impacts Act of 2026.

What does FINDINGS. of Artificial Intelligence Environmental Impacts Act of 2026 do?

This section outlines findings related to the environmental impacts of artificial intelligence (AI) and related computing technologies. The text notes a rapid increase in computational power used for AI applications and a corresponding surge in data center energy demand. It highlights concerns about increased energy consumption, air and water pollution, water scarcity, and land-use changes associated with data center infrastructure. The section points to rising electricity prices, potentially exacerbated by data center demand, and the growing problem of electronic waste (e-waste). While acknowledging potential positive environmental impacts of AI, such as optimizing energy efficiency and advancing renewable energy research, it also recognizes negative impacts like rebound effects and accelerated pollution. The findings indicate that certain communities, including low-income, Black and Brown, Indigenous, and rural communities, are at greater risk from the adverse effects of data center infrastructure. The text suggests options for mitigating negative environmental impacts, including using more efficient hardware and data centers, utilizing renewable energy, and promoting transparency in energy use and environmental impact metrics.

What does DEFINITIONS. of Artificial Intelligence Environmental Impacts Act of 2026 do?

This section defines key terms used within the Act. The term 'Administrator' refers to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. The definition of 'artificial intelligence' adopts the meaning provided in section 5002 of the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act of 2020. An 'artificial intelligence data center' is defined as a facility exceeding 50 megawatts in power capacity that houses infrastructure for AI activities like inference and training. An 'artificial intelligence model' is a component of an information system utilizing computational techniques to produce outputs. An 'artificial intelligence system' encompasses various forms of technology that operate using artificial intelligence.

What does STUDY ON ENVIRONMENTAL AND ENERGY-RELATED IMPACTS OF ARTIFICIAL of Artificial Intelligence Environmental Impacts Act of 2026 do?

This section mandates a comprehensive study on the environmental and energy-related impacts of artificial intelligence (AI) and related infrastructure. The study, to be conducted within one year of enactment, requires collaboration between the Administrator and several federal agencies, including the Secretary of Energy and the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy. The study must examine lifecycle impacts of AI, including energy and water use, greenhouse gas emissions, and effects on ecosystems. It will also analyze how design and location decisions for AI models and data centers influence these impacts. The study will assess AI data centers' impact on disaster resilience, particularly during extreme weather events. The report must forecast these impacts over 2, 5, and 10-year periods. The study will also identify potential positive environmental and energy-related impacts of AI applications. Public input, including comments and regional hearings, is required during the study's conduct.

What does ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ENVIRONMENTAL AND ENERGY-RELATED of Artificial Intelligence Environmental Impacts Act of 2026 do?

This section establishes an Artificial Intelligence Environmental and Energy-Related Impacts Consortium. The Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology will convene this consortium, consulting with the Administrator, the Secretary of Energy, and others. The consortium will include stakeholders from Indian Tribes, local governments, academia, civil society, and industry. The consortium's purpose is to identify needs for measuring and reporting environmental and energy-related impacts of artificial intelligence. Goals of the consortium include facilitating consistent reporting on the environmental impacts of AI models and systems. The consortium aims to develop or catalog open-source tools for measuring AI's environmental impacts, where technically feasible. It will also provide recommendations for mitigating negative environmental impacts and deploying positive AI use cases. The consortium will have equal representation between stakeholder groups. It must include at least three representatives from geographically distinct Tribal communities and three from geographically distinct cities or counties where AI data centers are located.

What does SYSTEM FOR REPORTING OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND ENERGY-RELATED of Artificial Intelligence Environmental Impacts Act of 2026 do?

This section establishes a system for reporting environmental and energy-related impacts of artificial intelligence data centers. Entities operating artificial intelligence data centers are defined as 'covered entities' and are required to submit annual reports to the Administrator. The Administrator, in consultation with other agencies and entities, will develop reporting requirements that include guidelines for calculating and reporting resource consumption, pollution, and other impacts. The reporting requirements must allow the Administrator to verify accuracy and completeness and enable public disclosure. The Administrator will solicit public comments before finalizing the reporting requirements and will make the finalized requirements publicly available. Reported information will be made available on a public website, except for information exempt under 5 U.S.C. § 552(b)(4). The Administrator can seek corrective action and impose administrative penalties for non-compliance with reporting requirements. This section does not alter existing obligations of the Administrator to disclose information under other laws, including the Freedom of Information Act.

What does REPORT TO CONGRESS. of Artificial Intelligence Environmental Impacts Act of 2026 do?

This section requires a report to Congress from the Administrator, the Secretary of Energy, and the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The report must be submitted within two years after the Administrator completes development of reporting requirements. The report should detail the findings of a consortium convened under section 5. It should also describe information reported under section 6. The report must include recommendations for mitigating the negative impacts of artificial intelligence. Finally, it should recommend use-cases for artificial intelligence in environmental applications based on net-benefit assessments.

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Artificial Intelligence Environmental Impacts Act of 2026

Last updated: 6/9/2026 · Introduced: 6/9/2026

Author: Edward Markey (D-MA)

TL;DR (AI)

The bill mandates a study by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to assess the environmental impacts of artificial intelligence (AI) data centers and related energy infrastructure, including lifecycle impacts and potential effects on disaster resilience.
It establishes an Artificial Intelligence Environmental and Energy-Related Impacts Consortium to identify needs for measuring and reporting AI's environmental and energy-related impacts, and to develop mitigation strategies.
The bill requires entities operating AI data centers exceeding 50 megawatts to submit annual reports to the EPA detailing resource consumption, pollution, and other environmental impacts.
The EPA will develop reporting requirements for AI data centers, allowing for public verification and disclosure of information, while protecting certain confidential data.
Within two years of the EPA finalizing reporting requirements, a report to Congress will detail the study findings, consortium recommendations, and potential AI use cases for environmental applications.

119th Congressin committeeHR. 9183(In Committee)Official page

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Includes provisions on preamble, short title., and 6 more.

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