Archer Amendment Targets Data Center Water Use as Groundwater Bill Advances

Oklahoma state lawmakers have advanced a bill, Senate Bill 259, that now includes provisions directly regulating water use by data centers. Rep. Nick Archer, R-Elk City and chairman of the House Energy and Natural Resources Committee, championed an amendment requiring data centers to use closed-loop or other low-consumption cooling systems, such as dielectric cooling fluid or air cooling, if they rely on groundwater as their primary cooling source. This amendment specifically prohibits traditional open-air evaporative cooling systems for these facilities, aiming to protect the state's groundwater resources. The original bill, authored by Rep. Carl Newton, R-Cherokee, and Sen. Brent Howard, focuses on mandating water meters for high-volume groundwater users across Oklahoma to improve tracking and management of the resource. Newton highlighted the critical importance of water, particularly in Western Oklahoma, citing research from Oklahoma State University indicating potential depletion of the Ogallala Aquifer within decades. He stressed the need for accurate measurement to understand usage. The legislation would apply only to high-volume users, not domestic use, and would be overseen by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board. It proposes usage limits based on a rolling five-year average, accounting for regional rainfall differences, while allowing for flexibility in annual allocations. The amendment was adopted without opposition, and the House Energy and Natural Resources Committee voted 8-0 to recommend the bill's passage.