To require the Secretary of Energy to conduct a study on the effect of data centers on communities of color and low-income communities, and for other purposes.

# Summary of HR 7858 **What the Bill Would Do** HR 7858 would require the U.S. Department of Energy to study how data centers affect communities of color and low-income neighborhoods. The bill directs federal researchers to examine the impacts—both positive and negative—that these large computer facilities have on residents in disadvantaged areas, with the goal of understanding potential disparities in how data center development affects different communities. **Who It Affects and Key Provisions** The bill primarily affects the Department of Energy, which would be tasked with conducting the research.

The findings would be relevant to low-income and communities of color that host or are near data centers, as well as policymakers considering where to site future facilities. While the full text isn't detailed here, the bill's stated purpose suggests it aims to gather data on issues like energy consumption, environmental quality, economic opportunities, and other community impacts. **Current Status** HR 7858 is currently in committee (as of the 119th Congress), meaning it has been introduced but not yet voted on by the full House. The bill was sponsored by Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman, a Democrat from New Jersey.