How a research paper helped spark Utah’s data center water law
Utah has enacted a new law requiring greater transparency from large data centers regarding their water usage, making it the first state to do so. This legislation, signed by Gov. Spencer Cox, mandates reporting on water sources, conservation efforts, and usage for facilities over 10,000 sq ft using at least 75 acre-feet annually. The law was spurred by research from the Aspen Institute and local controversies like the Stratos Project in Box Elder County, aiming to address increasing pressure on water and electricity resources.
Utah became the first state to enact a law mandating transparency on data center water usage, a collaborative effort by lawmakers, researchers, and advocacy groups. Republican Gov. Spencer Cox signed the bill in March, requiring new data centers over 10,000 square feet and using at least 75 acre-feet of water annually to report their usage to Utah's Division of Water Resources. These requirements cover water sources, conservation efforts, and water quality, with anonymized data to be aggregated and released publicly.
The legislation, sponsored by State Rep. Jill Koford, aims to provide local water providers and the state with insights into water consumption. The initiative originated from a research project by three fellows at the Aspen Institute’s Aspen Policy Academy, who investigated data center growth in Utah amid the Great Salt Lake's record low water levels. Their findings highlighted a significant lack of public information on data center water use, even after open records requests for facilities in the Salt Lake City area.
The fellows recommended creating a database for water usage and setting efficiency targets based on Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE) to incentivize more efficient cooling technologies. After being featured on a podcast and gaining support from Stewardship Utah, their policy brief was adapted into the new legislation. The law comes as data center operators face increasing scrutiny over their environmental impact, particularly concerning water and electricity strain, a concern amplified in Utah by controversies such as the Stratos Project in Box Elder County, which is currently subject to a lawsuit.