Microsoft Backs Water Cost Accountability Act Ahead of Data Center Legislation Vote
Microsoft has officially backed the Water Cost Accountability Act, which aims to prevent taxpayers from bearing the costs of infrastructure needed for data centers.
The legislation is advancing through the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, with lawmakers like Reps. Brett Guthrie (R., Ky.) and Gary Palmer (R., Ala.) supporting it.
Microsoft's corporate vice president for government affairs, Fred Humphries, emphasized the importance of transparent community-informed planning in ensuring infrastructure investments deliver lasting benefits while responsibly managing natural resources.
The company has been embracing the principles of this legislation since January, when it launched a Community-First AI Infrastructure Initiative to pay for water infrastructure improvements needed to support its data centers and reduce water use.