Ohio State Representatives introduce bill to track data center water usage

Ohio State Representatives Christine Cockley and Crystal Lett, both from Columbus, have introduced new legislation aimed at increasing transparency regarding water consumption by data centers across the state. The proposed bill mandates that data centers report their water usage monthly and annually. It also seeks to prohibit the use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) to conceal water consumption data in agreements with local municipalities. This legislative effort comes amidst a significant increase in data center developments throughout Central Ohio. Representatives Cockley and Lett highlighted that Ohio currently hosts over 200 data centers, yet lacks statewide reporting requirements for their water usage. They noted that even a medium-sized data center can consume as much water daily as a small town, raising environmental and community awareness concerns. Rep. Lett emphasized the importance of economic growth not coming at the expense of public awareness, stating that communities and developers need to fully understand the impacts of these facilities. The bill has been introduced and is awaiting assignment to a House Committee for further deliberation.