Gov. Newsom signs 7 bills aimed at regulating data centers
Governor Gavin Newsom signed seven bills aimed at regulating data centers across California, addressing concerns over water, electricity, and land use. The new laws require data centers to report their water and electricity consumption and ensure they comply with state energy requirements, with developers covering upgrade costs.
Governor Gavin Newsom of California signed seven new bills into law on Monday, aimed at regulating data centers across the state. The legislation addresses growing concerns regarding data centers' significant consumption of water, electricity, and their impact on land use.
According to a news release from the Governor's office, the bills mandate that data centers report their water and electricity usage. The legislation also aims to prevent the costs associated with data center operations from being passed on to consumers and ensures compliance with California's energy procurement requirements, including developers bearing upgrade costs.
Lawmakers have previously voiced concerns about the environmental and infrastructural risks posed by unregulated data center expansion. The Governor's office also critiqued former President Donald Trump for allegedly downplaying public concerns about data center growth in communities.