Senate investigation challenges data center cost-sharing practices

A yearlong Senate investigation found that none of seven major data center developers would agree to pay for all new power infrastructure that would be unnecessary without their projects, according to findings first shared with TIME. The companies said they would cover direct service costs but argued that broader grid investments can benefit other customers. The investigation covered Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, CoreWeave, Digital Realty and Equinix. Microsoft told investigators it would stop seeking nondisclosure agreements with local governments while retaining them with state agencies, utility commissions and utilities. Google and Meta declined to make the same local-government commitment. Much of the authority over electricity rates remains with state regulators.