The numbers: Around two-thirds of 809 planned data centers are headed for some of the country’s driest areas…where they would require loads of water to operate. That’s roughly equivalent to the ratio of data centers already operating in drought-stricken areas.
These include parts of Texas, where Gov. Greg Abbott has outlined a plan to rein in the hyperscalers flocking to his state. His recommendations for Texas officials: 1) require developers to add generation and pay for electric infrastructure 2) repeal sales tax exemptions and 3) mandate annual electricity and water use reporting.
And another moratorium: Seattle just passed a one-year freeze on new data centers >20MW in order to gauge local impacts. If the bill gets the mayor’s signature, Seattle will join over 70 cities and counties with some form of data center ban.
Molly Glick
Energy Central Team
Wed, Jun 10