Bills to regulate data farms approved before legislative session ends
California state lawmakers have passed several bills aimed at regulating data center projects, which now await the governor's signature. These bills include provisions for environmental reviews, shifting electricity costs to operators, and requiring water usage disclosure. The legislation comes amid increasing public backlash against data centers.
California state lawmakers have approved a series of bills in the final days of their session designed to increase regulation on data center developments across the state. One key piece of legislation mandates that data centers adhere to California’s stringent environmental review laws, while also offering fast-tracked permits for projects that successfully meet established environmental standards.
Further legislative measures target the economic and environmental impacts of data centers. Other bills seek to transfer elevated electricity costs from residential ratepayers to data center operators and compel developers to release comprehensive information regarding their water consumption before commencing construction. These regulatory efforts advance to the governor's desk for consideration amidst growing public opposition to data centers nationwide. Tech giants, including Amazon, have actively resisted moves to impose greater regulation on the data center industry.