Bills to regulate data center water usage introduced in Missouri House
News ClipWest Newsmagazine·St. Charles County, MO·3/9/2026
A pair of bills have been introduced in the Missouri House of Representatives that would regulate the water and power usage of large load customers like data centers in the state. The bills aim to protect existing customers from price shocks and instability when data centers come to the area, and require large users to cover the costs of grid expansions and infrastructure upgrades. The bills come as more data centers are proposed in the St. Louis region, where the sponsors cite water insecurity as a concern that needs to be addressed.
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Missouri lawmakers have introduced bills to regulate water and power usage by large customers like data centers in the state. The proposed "AI Infrastructure, Grid Integrity and Water Resource Protection Act" would require permits for customers using over 2 million gallons of water per day and mandate utilities create tariff schedules to ensure costs are fairly distributed. The act would also require large electricity consumers to cover the costs of grid expansions or new infrastructure. The sponsors say the goal is to protect existing customers and utility rates while still encouraging economic growth from data centers. However, some residents have expressed concerns about the impact of data centers on local resources, and one city is proposing a ban on such facilities.