HR 5927
Securing Reliable Power for Advanced Technologies Act
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Bill overview
The Securing Reliable Power for Advanced Technologies Act amends the Defense Production Act to prioritize the construction and expansion of critical artificial intelligence infrastructure. Specifically, it defines ‘critical artificial intelligence infrastructure’ as data centers, high-performance computing facilities, dispatchable baseload electric generation facilities, associated transmission facilities, and fuel supply infrastructure necessary to support these projects. The bill aims to accelerate permitting processes for these projects through concurrent reviews and a consolidated schedule, with potential compensation for Federal regulatory impairments. It also provides financial assistance for eligible facilities to expand or preserve capacity serving these critical AI infrastructure projects.
Key provisions
- Defines ‘critical artificial intelligence infrastructure’ and specifies its components.
- Authorizes the President to designate covered projects as priority national defense projects.
- Requires concurrent permitting reviews for designated projects by Federal agencies.
- Establishes a consolidated schedule for Federal authorizations with deadlines.
- Provides for monetary compensation to facility owners if Federal actions materially impair operations.
- Offers financial assistance (loans, guarantees) to eligible facilities supporting designated projects.
- Prioritizes assistance to facilities that directly supply designated projects and can commence operation within 36 months.
- Allows for exemptions from new emissions limitations if continued operation is deemed necessary for national defense.
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119th CONGRESS — 1st Session
H. R. 5927
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
A BILL
To amend the Defense Production Act of 1950 to accelerate designated critical artificial intelligence infrastructure projects as a priority national defense projects, and for other purposes.
This Act may be cited as the Securing Reliable Power for Advanced Technologies Act
.
covered projectmeans a project to construct, expand, repower, or reopen critical artificial intelligence infrastructure.
The term critical artificial intelligence infrastructure
means—
one or more data centers or high-performance computing facilities with a total connected electrical load of not less than 50 megawatts that is primarily dedicated to the training, development, or inference of artificial intelligence or other machine learning models;
any dispatchable baseload electric generation facility—
with a nameplate capacity of not less than 100 megawatts;
fuel supply infrastructure essential to the operation of facilities described in subparagraph (B), including—
coal mines and coal preparation facilities, as defined in section 701 of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C. 1291);
natural gas gathering, processing, storage, and transportation facilities subject to the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717 et seq.);
Federal authorizationmeans any permit, license, approval, or other administrative decision required under Federal law to site, construct, expand, operate, or maintain a covered project.
conduct reviews concurrently to the maximum extent practicable and consistent with applicable law; and
adhere to a consolidated schedule established by the President in accordance with paragraph (2).
The President shall ensure that a consolidated schedule described in paragraph (1)—
The President or a designee described in subparagraph (B) shall have exclusive authority to resolve disputes among Federal agencies regarding the scope, schedule, or terms of Federal authorizations.
The Secretary of Defense.
After publication in the Federal Register, the head of another Federal agency.
A civil action described in paragraph (1) may only be brought during the 60-day period following the date on which the applicable designation or authorization is made.
The President may, by executive order, exempt a covered project designated under this section from the application of new emissions limitations or operational requirements promulgated under Federal law after the date of designation, if the President determines and publishes in the Federal Register that—
the continued operation of such project is necessary for national defense (as defined in section 702 of this Act); and
application of such new requirements would materially impair the ability of the project to provide critical capacity in support of national defense.
If, after a project or facility is designated under subsection (b), any change in Federal statute, regulation, agency order, or permit condition imposed by a Federal agency prohibits or materially impairs the operation of a facility described in subsection (a)(2) for a continuous period of not less than 180 days—despite the facility’s compliance with all previously applicable Federal requirements—the United States shall pay monetary compensation to the owner or operator for the resulting loss in value and revenue, as determined under paragraph (2).
The amount of compensation shall equal the diminution in fair market value of the facility and the reasonably foreseeable loss of net revenue directly caused by the Federal action, as determined by an independent appraisal using generally accepted valuation methodologies that exclude unrelated market fluctuations or voluntary retirements.
A claim shall be filed with the lead agency designated under subsection (d) within 270 days after the impairment period described in paragraph (1) is satisfied. The lead agency shall issue a final written determination within 180 days after a complete claim is filed. Failure to act within that period shall constitute final agency action for purposes of subsection (e).
Compensation under this subsection shall be paid from the Defense Production Act Fund established under section 304 of this Act, subject to the availability of appropriations. The head of the lead agency may enter into binding settlement agreements to satisfy liability under this subsection.
No compensation shall be paid for losses attributable to—
gross negligence, willful misconduct, or knowing violation of law by the claimant;
voluntary retirement, decommissioning, or mothballing decisions not compelled by the Federal action;
non-Federal actions or orders;
routine permitting delays or conditions not rising to a material impairment; or
costs or losses already recovered from ratepayers or third parties, or that would result in double recovery.
The claimant shall have a duty to mitigate losses reasonably.
The United States waives sovereign immunity for monetary relief under this subsection, but not for punitive, exemplary, incidental, or consequential damages, and not for attorneys’ fees except as expressly provided by law. Venue, timing, expedited consideration, and standards of review shall be as set forth in subsection (e). Relief shall be limited to payment of the compensation amount.
Upon payment, the United States shall be subrogated to the claimant’s rights against any third party with respect to the impairment to the extent of such payment.
A facility described in subsection (a)(2), including a coal-fueled facility meeting subsection (a)(2)(A)–(C) and contractually dedicated under subsection (a)(2)(D), shall be eligible to receive financial assistance under sections 302 and 303 of this title, including loans and loan guarantees, purchase commitments, and other instruments to expand or preserve productive capacity necessary to serve critical artificial intelligence infrastructure.
The President may carry out this subsection directly or through delegation to the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Energy, or another appropriate officer. Electric cooperatives and their subsidiaries shall be eligible recipients on the same terms as investor-owned or municipal utilities.
Subject to sections 302 and 303, assistance may cover up to 90 percent of reasonable project costs, with a maximum maturity of 30 years or 90 percent of the reasonably expected economic life of the financed assets, whichever is shorter. The President may require collateral, seniority, covenants, or credit support as necessary to protect the interests of the United States.
In making awards, the President shall give priority to facilities that—
directly supply one or more projects designated under subsection (b);
can commence commercial operation or repower within 36 months; and
materially improve regional reliability margins as determined by the applicable reliability entity.
Amounts made available to carry out title III may be used to provide assistance under this subsection, including for pre-construction activities, long-lead equipment, environmental controls, and interconnection or network upgrades essential to serve designated projects.
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this section, the President (or designee) shall issue guidance establishing application procedures and standard terms for assistance under this subsection.
Amounts made available under this title may be used to carry out the consolidated schedule described in subsection (c)(2), including for staff, technical reviews, or contracting necessary to meet the requirements of such consolidated schedule.
In carrying out this section, the President shall ensure that rural electric cooperatives that are eligible for financing, loans, and loan guarantees available through the Rural Utilities Service of the Department of Agriculture can be designated as a covered project, including such cooperatives involved in the generation, transmission, or interconnection of facilities that support critical artificial intelligence infrastructure.
Section 702(14) of the Defense Production Act of 1950 (50 U.S.C. 4552(14)) is amended by inserting (including critical artificial intelligence infrastructure designated under section 306)
after critical infrastructure protection and restoration
.