Republican pushback

A new law signed by Gov. Bill Lee signed new legislation aims to protect utility ratepayers’ pockets when new data centers come to town.

The law, sponsored by Sen. Brent Taylor (R-Memphis) and Rep. Ed Butler (R-Rickman), requires data centers that have a peak demand of at least 50 megawatts of electricity during the first three years of operation to pay for their own electricity infrastructure so the ratepayers aren’t stuck with the bill.

“Under no circumstances should ratepayers have to pay for the infrastructure improvements needed by these data centers and their insatiable appetite for energy,” Taylor said.

The House approved a war powers resolution that would halt the U.S. military action against Iran, defying the president as a handful of Republicans joined with Democrats to end the three-month-long war that has reordered politics at home and abroad.

House Speaker Mike Johnson had tried to prevent an outcome that would show the mounting opposition to the war, abruptly shutting down floor action two weeks ago when the war powers resolution was on the verge of approval.