Nebraska wants data centers to come clean about water usage
Nebraska has enacted a new law compelling data centers to disclose their annual water usage and power demand to the state. This legislation aims to provide transparency for an industry often seen as opaque, especially as Nebraska grapples with persistent drought conditions. State officials and residents are concerned about potential water shortages and the strain on resources.
The Nebraska Legislature has passed a new law requiring data centers operating within the state to publicly disclose their annual water usage and power demand. This legislative action addresses long-standing concerns regarding the transparency of data center operations, which have historically been a 'black box' of information.
Jesse Bradley, director of the Department of Water, Energy, and Environment, praised the legislation as a 'great start' that will aid in future state planning and help identify remaining information gaps. The move comes as Nebraska, an agricultural state, faces severe drought conditions, leading to worries among local residents, researchers, and regulators that the proliferation of data centers could exacerbate water shortages.
Specific examples of water consumption include Google's Nebraska data centers, which are projected to use 732 million gallons in 2025, with an expectation of further growth. Meta's four million square-foot facility in Sarpy County reportedly withdrew between 26.7 million and 37.5 million gallons annually from 2020 to 2024. Data centers utilize water primarily for cooling, with methods like evaporative cooling being water-intensive, while closed-loop systems, though using less water, typically consume more electricity.
While the new law mandates disclosure, it also highlights the complexity of balancing water and energy demands. Eric Masanet, an engineering professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, noted that the 'best' cooling method depends on various factors, including the data center's design, local climate, and resource availability.