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Artificial Intelligence Environmental Impacts Act of 2026

USA119th CongressS-4727| Senate 
| Updated: 6/9/2026
Edward J. Markey

Edward J. Markey

Democratic Senator

Massachusetts

Cosponsors (4)
Chris Van Hollen (Democratic)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)Peter Welch (Democratic)Ron Wyden (Democratic)

Environment and Public Works Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This bill aims to address the growing environmental and energy footprint of artificial intelligence by mandating several key actions. It requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to conduct a comprehensive study, in collaboration with other federal agencies, on the full lifecycle environmental and energy-related impacts of artificial intelligence and its associated data centers. This study will examine issues such as energy and water use, air and water quality effects, greenhouse gas emissions, land use, and the impacts of hardware manufacturing and e-waste, forecasting these changes over 2, 5, and 10-year periods. Furthermore, the bill requires the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to convene a consortium of diverse stakeholders, including tribal communities, local governments, academia, and industry. The consortium's primary goals are to identify future measurements, methodologies, and standards for reporting the environmental and energy impacts of AI, facilitate consistent reporting, and recommend ways to mitigate negative impacts while promoting positive AI applications. This collaborative effort seeks to establish a standardized approach to understanding and addressing AI's environmental footprint. Finally, the legislation directs the EPA to develop a mandatory reporting system for artificial intelligence data centers, defined as facilities with over 50 megawatts of power capacity. These covered entities will be required to annually submit reports detailing their environmental impacts, including resource consumption (energy and water), local pollution, and e-waste. The EPA will establish guidelines for these reports, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and public disclosure, with provisions for enforcement against non-compliant entities.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-3732
Artificial Intelligence Environmental Impacts Act of 2024
Jun 8, 2026

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-9183
Introduced in House
Jun 9, 2026
Introduced in Senate
Jun 9, 2026
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-3732
    Artificial Intelligence Environmental Impacts Act of 2024


  • June 8, 2026

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-9183
    Introduced in House


  • June 9, 2026
    Introduced in Senate


  • June 9, 2026
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Environmental Protection

Related Bills

  • HR 119-9183: Artificial Intelligence Environmental Impacts Act of 2026

Artificial Intelligence Environmental Impacts Act of 2026

USA119th CongressS-4727| Senate 
| Updated: 6/9/2026
This bill aims to address the growing environmental and energy footprint of artificial intelligence by mandating several key actions. It requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to conduct a comprehensive study, in collaboration with other federal agencies, on the full lifecycle environmental and energy-related impacts of artificial intelligence and its associated data centers. This study will examine issues such as energy and water use, air and water quality effects, greenhouse gas emissions, land use, and the impacts of hardware manufacturing and e-waste, forecasting these changes over 2, 5, and 10-year periods. Furthermore, the bill requires the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to convene a consortium of diverse stakeholders, including tribal communities, local governments, academia, and industry. The consortium's primary goals are to identify future measurements, methodologies, and standards for reporting the environmental and energy impacts of AI, facilitate consistent reporting, and recommend ways to mitigate negative impacts while promoting positive AI applications. This collaborative effort seeks to establish a standardized approach to understanding and addressing AI's environmental footprint. Finally, the legislation directs the EPA to develop a mandatory reporting system for artificial intelligence data centers, defined as facilities with over 50 megawatts of power capacity. These covered entities will be required to annually submit reports detailing their environmental impacts, including resource consumption (energy and water), local pollution, and e-waste. The EPA will establish guidelines for these reports, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and public disclosure, with provisions for enforcement against non-compliant entities.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-3732
Artificial Intelligence Environmental Impacts Act of 2024
Jun 8, 2026

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-9183
Introduced in House
Jun 9, 2026
Introduced in Senate
Jun 9, 2026
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-3732
    Artificial Intelligence Environmental Impacts Act of 2024


  • June 8, 2026

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-9183
    Introduced in House


  • June 9, 2026
    Introduced in Senate


  • June 9, 2026
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Edward J. Markey

Edward J. Markey

Democratic Senator

Massachusetts

Cosponsors (4)
Chris Van Hollen (Democratic)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)Peter Welch (Democratic)Ron Wyden (Democratic)

Environment and Public Works Committee

Environmental Protection

Related Bills

  • HR 119-9183: Artificial Intelligence Environmental Impacts Act of 2026
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted