Earlier today, Reps. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) and Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) reintroduced the Energy Efficient Government Technology Act (EEGTA). They were joined by Reps. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), David McKinley (R-W.Va.), and Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.). The bill is designed to help the federal government harness information technologies and data centers for improved energy performance and efficiency. It will also save federal resources and therefore taxpayer dollars.
The federal government is one of the biggest operators of data centers and is also the single largest energy user in the U.S. If enacted, the bill would increase productive federal government use of energy-efficient and energy-saving technologies, such as advanced metering infrastructures; asset and infrastructure utilization solutions; advanced power management tools; travel substitution tools; and, fleet and logistics management tools. Replacing and consolidating larger and older data centers with smaller, next-gen facilities will save the government money, cut energy consumption, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and provide early support for emerging technologies.
Data centers are the workhorses of the latest waves of information and communications technology (ICT) innovation: cloud computing, the rapid expansion of mobile technology, the shift from physical media to digital streaming, and the emergence of the Internet of Things. None of these ICT innovations would be possible without data centers. There is a consequence to this reliance, though, namely the resource use of data centers and the stress that places on the larger system. However, the tech sector has responded swiftly by innovating next-generation technologies that dramatically shrink the physical, energy, and water footprint of data centers and networks, while boosting performance and cutting costs. The EEGTA would also further build on the partnership that exists between the tech sector and the federal government in advancing energy efficient data center strategies. As Congress continues to look for opportunities to make government more effective and function more efficiently, this is exactly the kind of solution that will achieve this goal without requiring even a single dollar in additional federal spending. ITI is a strong supporter of this legislation, and we will be actively seeking its enactment.
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