Archer Pushes Groundwater Protections as Oklahoma Targets Data Center Water Use
State Rep. Nick Archer is leading an effort at the Oklahoma Capitol to protect groundwater from data center water use. Oklahoma legislators passed Senate Bill 259, which requires new data centers to use lower water-consumption cooling systems. The bill currently awaits action from the governor.
Oklahoma State Rep. Nick Archer is championing legislation to safeguard groundwater resources in Western Oklahoma, driven by increasing concerns over water consumption by large data centers and AI facilities. The Oklahoma Legislature recently passed Senate Bill 259, a bill mandating that new data centers employ cooling technologies with lower water usage, such as closed-loop or dielectric immersion systems, instead of high-consumption evaporative methods. The legislation, which Rep. Carl Newton also supported, is now awaiting the governor's signature.
Proponents, including Archer who represents Elk City and Western Oklahoma, emphasize the critical need to protect underground water supplies, especially in rural areas facing persistent dry conditions. Lawmakers assert that the bill aims not to impede economic development but to prevent adverse impacts on farmers, ranchers, and communities dependent on groundwater. If enacted, Oklahoma would join other states like Kansas, Utah, California, and Virginia in establishing stricter environmental regulations for the expanding data center sector.