Data centers are putting new strain on California’s grid. A new report estimates the impacts

Data centers are putting new strain on California’s grid. A new report estimates the impacts

News ClipCalMatters·CA·11/14/2025

A new report from Next 10 and UC Riverside estimates that California's data centers are driving significant increases in electricity use, water demand, and pollution. However, the report acknowledges a lack of hard data from the data center industry itself, making the estimates uncertain. The report underscores the tension between advocates for clean energy and the growing power demands of data centers in California.

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A new report estimates that California’s data centers are driving increases in electricity use, water demand and pollution even as lawmakers stall on oversight. Welcome to CalMatters, the only nonprofit newsroom devoted solely to covering issues that affect all Californians. Sign up for WhatMa