U.S. Senators Propose Clean Cloud Act to Regulate Carbon Emissions

According to BlockBeats, Democratic Senators Sheldon Whitehouse and John Fetterman have introduced the Clean Cloud Act of 2025 to the U.S. Senate. The proposed legislation aims to regulate carbon emissions from cryptocurrency mining facilities and AI data centers, with a goal of imposing fines on facilities using non-renewable energy by 2035. The bill seeks to amend the Clean Air Act, requiring data centers with energy capacities exceeding 100 kilowatts to adhere to regional emission limits set by the Department of Energy's National Transmission Needs Study. The proposed emission caps will vary by region, with standards established by the end of 2025 and decreasing by 11% annually until reaching zero by 2035. Companies exceeding these limits will face inflation-adjusted fines, which cannot be passed on to consumers. The collected fines will be allocated to local governments to mitigate rising residential electricity costs and support clean energy initiatives. The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee's Democratic team expressed on the X platform that while cryptocurrency and AI data centers could support clean energy, they currently increase fossil fuel consumption and elevate household electricity expenses. The Clean Cloud Act aims to ensure these profitable industries take responsibility, maintaining leadership in AI development and climate safety. The bill is expected to face opposition from Congressional Republicans. U.S. President Donald Trump has previously stated his desire for the U.S. to become a leading global Bitcoin mining nation. Reports have also indicated that the Trump family plans to list their Bitcoin mining company publicly.