The Energy Information Agency (EIA) plans to require data centers to disclose their energy use, according to a report by Wired. This move follows a letter from Senators Josh Hawley and Elizabeth Warren last month, asking the EIA to collect data on this industry's growing energy consumption. The nationwide survey will be mandatory, although no date has been set for its implementation.
The agency had previously announced two pilot surveys: one in Texas, Washington state, and the D.C.-Northern Virginia metro area, involving 196 companies, and a second survey in three different states. EIA chief Tristan Abbey expects these pilot surveys to be complete by September, at which point the mandatory survey for data centers nationwide will begin development.
The move is seen as an effort to address the industry's growing energy needs. Data centers have been consuming increasing amounts of power, sparking concerns about their environmental impact. The new requirements aim to provide a clearer picture of this trend and help the EIA track energy use in the industry more effectively.
The mandatory survey will likely be closely watched by data center operators, who will need to comply with the new reporting requirements. The move is also expected to have implications for the wider tech industry, as companies work to reduce their environmental footprint.
