California’s data center hysteria is more hype than fact
This article argues that public concerns about data center water and electricity consumption in California and across the U.S. are exaggerated. It uses data from national laboratories and the Imperial Valley in California to demonstrate that data centers use a relatively small percentage of the national water supply compared to other sectors like agriculture. The author criticizes Governor Gavin Newsom's veto of legislation requiring data centers to disclose water use, advocating for transparency and proper siting rather than general opposition.
An opinion piece in The Iola Register argues that public "hysteria" surrounding data center development in California and nationwide is largely unfounded, particularly concerning water and electricity usage. The author likens the opposition to the initial resistance to the Model T, suggesting societal adaptation is necessary.
Citing a 2024 study by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the article highlights that data centers primarily consume water off-site for power generation. It projects that by 2028, data centers could use about 2.9 million acre-feet of water annually across the U.S., which, when compared to the national economy's total consumption of 279 million acre-feet, represents only about 1% of the national water supply. The author questions whether this usage is more problematic than, for example, growing alfalfa, which consumes significantly more water in regions like California's Imperial Valley.
The article points to the Imperial Valley as a specific "hotbed of data center hysteria," noting a proposed "hyperscale facility" that could use 275 million gallons of water per year. However, it contextualizes this by stating that the Imperial Irrigation District holds rights to 3.1 million acre-feet of Colorado River water annually, making the data center's 856 acre-feet a "tiny fraction" of the valley's water portfolio, and 770 times less than the water used for alfalfa cultivation.
The author criticizes California Governor Gavin Newsom for vetoing legislation that would have required data centers to provide information on their water use, arguing that such transparency would alleviate concerns. The piece concludes by suggesting that opponents of data centers should demonstrate intellectual consistency by foregoing modern technology if they truly believe data centers are problematic.