Analysts say the results of the US midterm elections could shape future energy policy, including regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, energy permitting, electricity rates and clean energy tax measures.
According to Axios on November 3, local time, gasoline and diesel prices, data center electricity demand and bipartisan energy permitting legislation emerged as major issues in the midterm elections.
Data center regulation, in particular, emerged as a central issue.
According to Data Center Watch, 32.4% of Democratic candidates supported halting data center construction at the federal, state or local government level, compared with just 3.4% of Republican candidates.
The parties' policy differences are particularly apparent because the pace of data center construction directly affects not only the expansion of AI infrastructure but also electricity demand and carbon emissions.
Ohio is among the states with a concentration of referendums on data center regulation.
The balance of power in Congress is also expected to affect bipartisan permitting reform legislation intended to shorten environmental reviews for energy and infrastructure projects and transmission permitting.
Energy research firm ClearView Energy Partners said that if Democrats win control of both the Senate and the House, Democratic leaders might delay action on the current legislation to renegotiate terms in the new Congress in 2027.
There are also expectations that exceptionally close election results could create political uncertainty, adding to the obstacles facing the legislation.
ClearView said that if President Trump and Republicans challenge the election results, weeks of postelection disputes could make it harder for various bills to pass Congress.
Another question in this election is how much high energy prices actually influenced voters.
Gasoline and diesel prices were prominent campaign issues, and observers say the performance of candidates who made energy costs a central issue could influence both parties' future energy policies.
Voter responses to electricity rates and data center power consumption are also drawing attention.
Some states directly elect members of electricity regulatory bodies, including public service commissions, that have substantial influence over electricity rates and grid planning.
In Georgia, victories by two Democratic candidates could change the partisan balance of the state's Public Service Commission for the first time in decades.
Gubernatorial election results could also directly affect oil and gas development, electricity rates and power infrastructure policy.
Some observers also expect that major new energy legislation is unlikely to pass in the next Congress.
However, analysts say opportunities for bipartisan cooperation remain in nuclear and geothermal energy.
The broad permitting bill currently under discussion in the Senate includes several bipartisan geothermal bills that have already passed the House.
If Democrats gain control of either the Senate or the House, congressional investigations into White House energy policy and related investments could also intensify.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer has said that Democrats would seek to restore clean energy tax credits that Republicans repealed in the 2025 budget law.
Original Korean article: news.einfomax.co.kr
English brief by Korea Wind Intelligence, koreawindintel.com
