State lawmakers hear testimony on water use in data centers
Texas state lawmakers heard testimony regarding water consumption by data centers. This hearing comes ahead of the next legislative session, where new bills regulating data center development and water usage could be considered. A QTS Data Centers representative spoke about their company's water-saving measures.
Texas state lawmakers recently convened to hear testimony on the significant water consumption associated with data centers across the state. The discussion comes in anticipation of the upcoming legislative session, where potential bills regulating data center development, particularly concerning water usage, are expected to be introduced.
Data center development is expanding rapidly throughout Texas, with a concentration near major population centers. Lawmakers expressed interest in ensuring that water resources are utilized appropriately and deliberated on establishing guardrails for water usage by these facilities.
Ryan Keethy, Senior Vice President of Operations at QTS Data Centers, provided insights during the hearing. He emphasized that the growth in the data center industry is largely driven by AI and streaming platforms. Keethy highlighted QTS's commitment to water conservation, stating that all data centers built by the company since 2019 utilize a closed-loop system, which he claims has helped avoid the consumption of 7.5 billion gallons of water compared to other methods.
The hearing concluded without any immediate votes or decisions, serving as a preliminary step before the next legislative session where specific regulatory measures will be formally considered.