The North Carolina House passed a revised version of Senate Bill 730, the Ratepayers Protection Act, yesterday with a bipartisan vote.

What does it do? From Speaker Destin Hall’s press release:

• Making data centers pay their own way by requiring them to cover additional costs of the new energy infrastructure and power they demand via contract, so families and small businesses don’t get stuck with the bill.
• Putting affordability first by launching a comprehensive study on how factors like energy policies, major power users like data centers, and the state’s 2050 clean energy goals impact electricity costs.
• Keeping the lights on and preventing price hikes by ensuring existing power plants are not retired before reliable replacement power is available.
• Stopping taxpayers from subsidizing expensive data centers by prohibiting new local incentives.
• Protecting our national security by preventing foreign adversaries from owning or controlling data centers and related land in our state.
• Defending private property rights by banning the use of eminent domain to acquire land for data center developments.
• Giving our communities a stronger voice by requiring reviews of noise impacts and allowing local assessments of water resources, agriculture, air quality, and other concerns.
• Protecting local water supplies by mandating more efficient water-cooling technologies in data centers while prohibiting wasteful methods.

The Ratepayers Protection Act will help rein in the rising cost of living and keep our state one of the most desirable places to live and work.