California tightens datacenter rules on water and power
Public pushback puts bit barn resource use under the microscope
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed seven state bills on Monday to tighten regulations on datacenters regarding water and power usage. The bills, signed by Newsom, require datacenter operators to report more information about their operations and involve communities in planning future facilities. The bills address disclosure of water and electricity use, responsibilities for grid connections and power infrastructure costs, and rules for electricity rates, water resources, and environmental review.
Steve Padilla, a California state senator and author of two bills, stated that these measures ensure datacenters pay for energy grid connections, electricity generation costs, and a larger share of wildfire mitigation and liability costs. Newsom emphasized the administration's willingness to constrain the industry, which is significant to California's economy, amid concerns raised by the Trump administration.
While the Trump administration focuses on deregulation, local communities face higher electricity demand, grid constraints, water use, and pollution as a result. Dr. Nathan Wangusi, who runs the independent water data transparency platform Data Center Water Leaks, noted that California's new disclosure requirements could improve transparency about water usage by datacenters and help communities understand their impact on local water supplies.
The bills include AB 1577, AB 2383, AB 2469, AB 2619, SB 886, SB 887, and SB 1168, each focusing on specific aspects of datacenter regulation.
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