California High Speed Rail Commission explores data centers along San Joaquin Valley route amid water concerns
The California High Speed Rail Commission is reportedly exploring a proposal to line its San Joaquin Valley rail route with data centers as a revenue-generating strategy. This plan raises significant environmental concerns, particularly regarding the excessive water consumption of data centers, which could worsen water scarcity and land subsidence in the already strained Valley. Critics argue the proposal contradicts existing state water and climate change mandates.
A rumor suggests the California High Speed Rail Commission is considering a controversial plan to line the San Joaquin Valley portion of its route with data centers. This initiative, proposed as a "revenue stream" for the financially troubled high-speed rail project, aims to capitalize on potential excess clean electricity and fiber optic capabilities. Governor Gavin Newsom previously touted the rail as an economic elixir for the state's poorest region.
However, critics, including columnist Dennis Wyatt, argue the proposal overlooks the severe environmental implications, particularly the immense water demands of data centers. A medium-sized data center can consume up to 110 million gallons of water annually, equivalent to 1,000 households, while larger facilities use millions of gallons daily. Such water demands are deemed unsustainable for the San Joaquin Valley, an area already grappling with significant land subsidence and reliance on imported water.
The plan is also seen as conflicting with existing state mandates requiring all California water basins to achieve sustainability by 2045 and efforts to address climate change. Critics contend that the commission appears to disregard broader state environmental directives, creating a potential "nuclear bomb" for California's water politics. Wyatt urges the commission to promptly reject the data center proposal given the state's critical water concerns.