Columnist Argues Data Center Concerns in California Overstated
A columnist argues that the public's "hysteria" over data center water and electricity use in California is overblown, citing studies that show their relatively small impact compared to other sectors. The author criticizes the lack of intellectual consistency among opponents and Governor Newsom's veto of a bill requiring data centers to disclose water usage. The piece suggests that a focus on comprehensive resource policy is more important than isolating data centers.
Tom Philp, a columnist for The Sacramento Bee, asserts that the opposition to data centers across California and the U.S. is largely based on "hysteria" rather than facts. He contends that while data centers do consume electricity and water, the impact is often exaggerated, drawing a comparison to early opposition to automobiles.
Philp references a 2024 study by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, which indicates data centers use significantly more water off-site for power generation than on-site for cooling. He calculates that by 2028, nationwide data center water use (direct and indirect) could reach 2.9 million acre-feet, which, while substantial, represents only about 1% of the U.S. economy's total annual water consumption. He questions whether using this water for information production is worse than using it for agriculture, citing the Imperial Valley's proposed hyperscale facility that would use a tiny fraction of the region's water compared to alfalfa farming.
The columnist criticizes Governor Gavin Newsom's decision to veto legislation that would have required data centers to provide water use information, arguing that a lack of transparency fuels public distrust and perception of political ties to "Big Tech." He also suggests that data centers should bear the full cost if their power demands lead local utilities like the Sacramento Municipal Utility District to acquire more expensive electricity. Philp concludes by urging Californians to demonstrate intellectual consistency and view data centers within the broader context of resource challenges, rather than succumbing to what he calls a distraction from crucial technology debates.