Two U.S. senators have fired the latest salvo in an increasingly active front against data centers and their energy use by demanding that the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) collect detailed data from these facilities.

Senators Josh Hawley and Elizabeth Warren sent a letter to the EIA, urging it to establish a mandatory annual reporting requirement for data centers. As electricity demand growth continues after years of stagnation, the senators argue that reliable, standardized data is essential for effective grid planning.

The letter comes amid a broader push by politicians to regulate AI and data center construction. Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have also proposed legislation to halt new data center projects until Congress can agree on how to manage the energy-intensive tasks of artificial intelligence.

Data center energy use has exploded in recent years, with Google's facilities doubling their consumption between 2020 and 2024. By 2035, planned new data centers are set to nearly triple the sector’s energy demand. The EIA, a government agency tasked with analyzing the U.S. energy system, is now being asked to provide more granular information about how these facilities operate.

Hawley and Warren specifically requested hourly, annual, and peak energy loads, as well as payment rates for companies. They also want details on grid upgrades needed by new large loads and whether data center customers participate in demand response programs. The EIA administrator Tristan Abbey previously stated that the agency would be an “essential player” in collecting this data.