A new draft bill called the Clean Cloud Act of 2025 aims to dramatically cut greenhouse gas emissions from crypto mining operations and AI data centers across the U.S., crypto news website The Block has reported.
Presented by Democratic Senators Sheldon Whitehouse and John Fetterman, the legislation proposes strict emissions caps that will decrease annually until facilities are fully reliant on renewable energy by 2035.
The bill would modify the Clean Air Act, requiring any data center or mining facility using more than 100 kilowatts of energy to adhere to regional emissions limits.
These caps, determined by the Department of Energy’s National Transmission Needs Study, will be finalized by the end of 2025 and reduced by 11% each year until they reach zero.
Facilities that exceed the cap would be fined based on how much they surpass the limit, with the penalties adjusted for inflation.
Notably, the Clean Cloud Act prohibits companies from passing these fines onto consumers. Instead, funds collected will support clean energy projects and help local communities manage electricity costs.
Relevant: Exxon Wants To Satiate Power-hungry Data Centers With Natural Gas & Carbon Capture
The legislation also mandates that facilities submit annual reports detailing their electricity usage and energy sources. These reports will enable the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to measure the greenhouse gas intensity of each operation.
Interestingly, the responsibility for compliance—and any penalties—falls on tenants leasing space in data centers, potentially affecting startups and smaller tech firms.
Supporters argue the bill will promote sustainability and hold tech industries accountable. “Crypto & AI data centers can support clean energy, but they’re burning more fossil fuels & driving up families’ energy prices instead,” the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works said on X.
However, the bill is expected to face opposition from Republicans, including President Trump, who has pushed for the U.S. to dominate global Bitcoin mining. Trump’s sons are also planning to take their mining company public.
Read more: AI Data Centers To Become Major Emitters By 2030, Morgan Stanley Warns
