MEETING NOTES: Desert groundwater agency seeks information on proposed AI data center
The Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority is addressing significant public concerns regarding a proposed AI data center in Inyokern, California, primarily over its potential water consumption in an already overdrafted basin. While unable to approve the project directly, the Authority is gathering information, requesting outlines of potential conditions from Kern County, and liaising with the California Energy Commission which has oversight due to the data center's planned backup power generation. Residents are advocating for legislative action to protect groundwater resources.
The Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority (IWVGA) board of directors recently addressed ongoing public concerns about a proposed artificial intelligence data center in Inyokern, California, marking the second consecutive month the project dominated public comments. Residents voiced strong opposition, primarily due to fears over the data center's significant water consumption in the region's already overdrafted Indian Wells Valley subbasin.
Despite lacking direct approval or denial power over the project, the IWVGA is actively engaged in fact-finding and information gathering. Authority Chair Phillip Peters, who also serves as a Kern County Supervisor, moved to request a memo from Kern County outlining potential conditions it could impose on such a data center. Additionally, a letter will be sent to the California Energy Commission (CEC) to relay residents' concerns and update them on local water conditions. The board also approved its consultant, Capital Core Group, to continue investigating data center-related legislation.
Judy Decker, a local resident, emphasized the need for the board to "defend the water that is left in our groundwater basin" by pursuing legislation protecting basins from intensive water use. The proposed data center falls under the California Energy Commission's jurisdiction as it plans to use 44 diesel-powered generators to produce 99 megawatts of backup power, effectively classifying it as a small power plant. RB Inyokern, the applicant, has sought a small power plant exemption from the CEC, which will conduct a comprehensive California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review covering all potential impacts, including water use and land use.