The bill aims to improve energy and water usage measurement in data centers, including those connected to artificial intelligence processes. It directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology to develop best practices, definitions, and procedures for measurement and reporting. The bill emphasizes research to enhance measurement accuracy, data needs for energy forecasting, and standardized metrics development. Stakeholder engagement, international coordination, and congressional briefings are required. An appropriation of $10,000,000 is authorized for each fiscal year from 2027 to 2029. Definitions for terms related to data centers, energy generation, and artificial intelligence are provided.
Data Infrastructure Energy Measurement and Standards Act
This bill requires the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to carry out a program to inform the development of best practices, technical standards, and other resources for measuring workloads and energy and water use of data centers, including measurements relating to training and processing of artificial intelligence models.
Specifically, NIST must
- develop or identify best practices and other resources for such measurements, taking into account specified factors such as workload type and system configuration;
- conduct research and testing to improve the accuracy, timeliness, and reliability of such measurements;
- study data needs for energy and water demand forecasting and other research; and
- support the development of standardized metrics and data sharing mechanisms to promote improved energy and water demand forecasting.
Further, NIST must coordinate with the Department of Energy to ensure applicable metrics and data are managed and archived appropriately and promote open exchange of metrics and data as appropriate. NIST must also coordinate with international partners to maintain global data center energy measurement standards.
Finally, NIST must periodically brief Congress on the program.