Any facility exceeding these limits would face penalties starting at $20 per metric ton of CO2e, with annual increases based on inflation plus an additional $10 per ton. The bill aims to curb the rising power demand from data-heavy industries and prevent surging energy costs for American households.
The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works notes that data centers could consume up to 12% of total U.S. electricity by 2028. Morgan Stanley projects these facilities will generate around 2.5 billion metric tons of global CO2 emissions by 2030.
Critics argue the bill unfairly singles out crypto mining. VanEck’s head of research, Matthew Sigel, labeled it a “Losing ‘Blame the Server Racks’ Strategy,” suggesting it's an oversimplified attempt to pin broader energy concerns on a specific industry.
The proposal also risks clashing with former President Donald Trump’s deregulatory stance, which included repealing a 2023 Biden executive order on AI safety. Trump has championed making the U.S. the global hub for both AI and cryptocurrency.
As crypto markets face headwinds - compounded by Bitcoin’s 2024 halving and prolonged price stagnation in 2025 - miners are increasingly repurposing infrastructure for AI applications. According to Coin Metrics, miner revenue began to stabilize in early 2025 thanks in part to this diversification.
However, that recovery may be fragile. Industry leaders warn that ongoing trade tensions and aggressive tariffs could further disrupt operations. For now, the Clean Cloud Act remains in draft form - but if passed, it could mark a significant regulatory shift for two of the most energy-hungry sectors of the digital economy.
Kostiantyn Tsentsura is a Content Writer at Yellow.com with over 8 years of experience in crypto, dedicating the last 4 years to writing about the industry. Based in Kyiv, he’s passionate about football, fishing, and kayaking. When he’s not tracking market trends or exploring crypto news, you’ll find him on the water—because even in crypto, sometimes it’s best to just go with the flow.
