Data center permitting bill: Senate opens debate as TD Cowen cuts pass odds to 25%

The Senate opens debate Monday on the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act, the sweeping energy bill that has become Washington's first live test of how to handle the anti-data-center backlash that helped Democrats sweep last week's midterms. For the AI buildout, the fight is concrete: the bill would speed approvals for new power plants and transmission lines while requiring large data center operators to bear more of the cost of the grid upgrades built to serve them. Investment firm TD Cowen has cut its passage odds to 25% from 40% before the November 3 election, according to a Reuters report dated November 9.

Key takeaways Senate debate on the permitting bill, known as BAAJA, open…