By Sean Maguire ( August 6, 2026, 06:05 GMT | Insight) -- A senior minister says Australia plans to legislate national standards requiring new data centers to fully offset their electricity use with additional renewable generation, despite opposition from Queensland and the Northern Territory. The framework would also require firm power, flexible demand and a “causer-pays” model under which operators fund network upgrades triggered by their projects. The government has submitted two related rule-change requests to Australia’s electricity regulator. Energy experts have warned, however, that renewable generation, storage and transmission may not be built quickly enough to keep pace with data-center growth, increasing the risk of higher power prices and prolonged fossil-fuel use.Australia’s Energy Minister Chris Bowen said the Commonwealth will proceed with legislation requiring new data centers to fully offset their electricity use with additional renewable generation, despite opposition from Queensland and the Northern Territory....
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