Mukherji Helps Bring New Reporting Rules For New Jersey Data Centers
New Jersey data centers are now required to report their water and energy usage every six months under a new law, S-3379. Sponsored by State Sen. Raj Mukherji and Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz and signed by Governor Mikie Sherrill, this bipartisan legislation aims to protect New Jersey families from increased energy costs and strained natural resources. The reports will be submitted to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, detailing energy sources, water usage, and additional sustainability information for facilities receiving state incentives.
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill has signed bipartisan legislation, S-3379, into law, mandating new reporting requirements for data centers across the state. The bill, sponsored by State Senator Raj Mukherji and Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz, requires data center owners and operators to submit detailed reports on their water and energy consumption every six months to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities for a period of three years.
Senator Mukherji, a Democrat representing Hudson County, emphasized the importance of these regulations, citing concerns about the expanding footprint of large data centers and their increasing demands on New Jersey's energy and water resources. He stated the need to protect New Jersey families from higher electricity costs, strained infrastructure, and pressure on natural resources, asserting that ratepayers should not subsidize the digital economy through increased utility bills. The law aims to ensure data centers are accountable for their infrastructure demands.
The reporting requirements are comprehensive, covering total energy use, including electricity and other fuels, identification of public electric utility agreements, on-site power supplies, and emergency backup systems. Water reports must detail total and peak daily usage, water sources (potable or reclaimed), and public water system agreements. Data centers receiving state financial incentives face additional mandates, including reporting on cooling temperatures, waste heat, renewable electricity, and reused waste heat.
Senator Ruiz, a Democrat representing Essex and Hudson counties, echoed the sentiment, highlighting that the measure will provide policymakers with crucial information necessary for effective management of the state's vital resources.