Democratic, U.S. Senator from New Mexico
Now: U.S. Senator since 2013 verified October 12, 2026 · source (opens in a new tab)
Photo: United States Senate, public domain (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons (opens in a new tab), cropped.
Checked · How the record reads leaders · Report a change · Corrections
Of 12 statements on the record, 10 raised concerns about data centers and 2 carry no label.
Labels are applied by the record's published rules: two readings of each statement, and a third that reads its source where the two differ. Every label sits beside its statement and its source, and any label can be challenged through Report a change, with the correction logged on the corrections page.
What they said
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Martin Heinrich said Ratepayer Protection Act does not require data centers to pay full cost of grid upgrades and relies on voluntary pledges.
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 30, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Deseret News (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: Both readings of the statement agreed. The words that set it: "does not require data centers to pay full cost of grid upgrades and relies on voluntary pledges".
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Martin Heinrich has pushed an alternative called the GRID Savings Act that would require large electricity users to pay for the grid infrastructure needed to connect them
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 30, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- newsweek.com (opens in a new tab), national outlet
Label rationale: Both readings of the statement agreed. The words that set it: "require large electricity users to pay for the grid infrastructure needed to connect them".
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Martin Heinrich stated the framework ascribes incremental grid upgrade costs to data center developers rather than ratepayers.
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source. Label set by a tiebreak.
Where & When: September 30, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Deseret News (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: A tiebreak: the two first readings differed, and a third reading of the statement and its source decided. The words that set it: "it ascribes those costs to the developers, not to ratepayers in a given utility or geographic area".
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U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich took to the Senate floor to push for greater accountability for data centers.
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 19, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- KSFR (opens in a new tab), local outlet
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Sen. Martin Heinrich said the Ratepayer Protection Act does not go far enough to force AI data centers to pay for their own massive electricity consumption
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 18, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Patch (opens in a new tab), local outlet
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Martin Heinrich, U.S. Senator from New Mexico, said Congress needs real legislation with teeth rather than voluntary pledges
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source. Label set by a tiebreak.
Where & When: September 18, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- KOA 850 AM & 94.1 FM (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: A tiebreak: the two first readings differed, and a third reading of the statement and its source decided. The words that set it: "Rather than voluntary pledges or suggestions to states, Congress needs to pass real legislation with real teeth.".
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Sen. Martin Heinrich (D NM) objected to fast track of Ratepayer Protection Act requiring states to consider standards preventing large electricity users from shifting infrastructure costs onto utility customers
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source. Label set by a tiebreak.
Where & When: September 18, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- New York Post (opens in a new tab), national outlet
Label rationale: A tiebreak: the two first readings differed, and a third reading of the statement and its source decided. The words that set it: "AI data centers can mean higher costs for American families, and in a lot of places they already do".
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Sen. Heinrich proposed GRID Savings Act requiring large electricity users such as data centers to pay for facilities needed to connect to grid and federal standards governing large load interconnections
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 18, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- New York Post (opens in a new tab), national outlet
Label rationale: Both readings of the statement agreed. The words that set it: "requiring large electricity users such as data centers to pay for facilities needed to connect to grid".
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Martin Heinrich said the Ratepayer Protection Act lacks enforcement power and promoted his GRID Savings Act of 2026, which would give FERC binding rulemaking authority over facilities demanding 150 megawatts or more.
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 18, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- finance.biggo.com (opens in a new tab), international outlet
Label rationale: Both readings of the statement agreed. The words that set it: "Ratepayer Protection Act lacks enforcement power... FERC binding rulemaking authority over facilities demanding 150 megawatts or more".
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Heinrich proposed an alternative bill that would require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to issue rules for data centers using 150 megawatts or more to pay for certain grid upgrades
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 18, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Deseret News (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: Both readings of the statement agreed. The words that set it: "require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to issue rules for data centers using 150 megawatts or more to pay for certain grid upgrades".
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U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich called for the Senate to pass his GRID Savings Act requiring data centers to pay for their own grid connections and upgrades, opposing voluntary compliance.
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 17, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- KSFR (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: Both readings of the statement agreed. The words that set it: "requiring data centers to pay for their own grid connections and upgrades, opposing voluntary compliance".
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Martin Heinrich introduced GRID Savings Act to prevent Americans from shouldering electricity costs from data centers and to require data center engagement with communities on water conservation and air pollution
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 17, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- CBS News (opens in a new tab), national outlet
Label rationale: Both readings of the statement agreed. The words that set it: "prevent Americans from shouldering electricity costs from data centers and to require data center engagement with communities on water conservation and air pollution".
How they voted
No vote on a data center measure on the record.
Something missing?
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Data Center Record, "Public statements by Martin Heinrich", https://datacenterrecord.org/speakers/martin-heinrich, last verified October 20, 2026.
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Last verified: October 12, 2026.