Warnock Seeks New EPA Guidance on Water Use, Transparency for Data Centers
Senator Raphael Warnock is urging the EPA to develop new guidance for state and local governments to evaluate and mitigate the environmental impacts of data centers, citing concerns over water use and transparency. This request comes as Georgia, a rapidly expanding data center market, faces a proposed OpenAI project and growing public opposition to AI data centers.
U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock of Georgia has formally requested the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue new guidance for state and local governments to better manage and evaluate the environmental impacts of expanding data center developments. The senator highlighted growing concerns over water consumption, transparency, and limited local input in the approval processes, particularly given Georgia's emergence as the nation's sixth-largest data center market.
Warnock's appeal is partly in response to planned projects, such as OpenAI's "Project Camellia" data center campus in Effingham County, and reflects increasing national scrutiny over the environmental footprint of data centers, including their significant demands for electricity and water. He emphasized the need for best practices related to measuring and disclosing water consumption, assessing cumulative environmental impacts, and improving public transparency during the permitting process.
Citing polling that indicates 70% of Americans oppose the construction of AI data centers in their communities, Warnock underscored the urgency for stronger safeguards. While the proposed EPA guidance would not establish new federal regulations, it aims to provide a vital framework for communities to assess future data center developments, protect natural resources, and enhance transparency.