Senate Democrats block GOP data center electricity cost bill

Senate Democrats on Wednesday blocked the Ratepayer Protection Act, a House-passed bill meant to address rising electricity costs tied to data centers, in a procedural vote that failed to reach the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster. Democrats called the bill "toothless," saying it would only require states to consider making data centers pay more, and said Republicans had agreed to stronger language elsewhere. The bill had passed the House with bipartisan support.