Data Center Water Usage

Water consumption, cooling demands, and water resource concerns related to data center operations. Data Center Signal is tracking 13,161 clips related to water across all 50 states.

13161Clips

15States

States

Companies

Google6%

Meta4%

Amazon4%

Microsoft3%

OpenAI2%

Oracle2%

QTS1%

DC BLOX1%

xAI1%

CyrusOne1%

News ClipKOTA Territory News·Rapid City, Pennington County, SD

Rapid City debates data center regulation amid EPA rule changes and tech company influence

Rapid City, South Dakota is debating the impact of energy-intensive data centers, with local leaders proposing new ordinances to ensure public input on future projects. This local pushback follows an EPA proposal that would eliminate public notification requirements for air pollution permits for minor industrial facilities, including data centers. Concerns about environmental transparency, local control, and the influence of tech company campaign funding, such as over $500,000 from a Meta-backed PAC, are central to the debate.

zoning opposition environmental government electricity water

Luzerne County zoning plan for data centers under legal review

Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, is conducting a legal review of a proposed zoning ordinance that would restrict data centers to specific industrial and business districts across 19 municipalities. The amendment aims to regulate data center development, which is not addressed in the current zoning code, by requiring special exception approvals and establishing requirements for power, water, and emergency response plans. The county planning commission plans to vote on a recommendation for the county council after the legal review is complete.

zoning government legal electricity water

9/5/2026

News ClipUprise RI·RI

Rhode Island Data Center Tax Plan Faces Cost Warning

Pennsylvania's data center sales-tax exemption is projected to cost the state significantly more than initially estimated, reaching $188.4 million for FY 2026-27. This growing cost provides a cautionary example for Rhode Island lawmakers, who recently considered their own data center tax incentives and proposals to manage electric and water costs. Additionally, an advocacy group has called for a two-year moratorium on new large data center construction in Rhode Island.

government electricity water moratorium

9/5/2026

News ClipCNBC·IA

Abel: Two ways Berkshire hopes to cash in on AI$

Berkshire Hathaway CEO Greg Abel outlined the company's two-pronged approach to AI, focusing on providing energy to data centers through Berkshire Hathaway Energy and investing in Alphabet. He highlighted energy as a significant constraint for data center expansion and discussed the growing community opposition across the U.S. regarding such developments. Abel also noted the substantial tax benefits data centers bring to local communities, citing Iowa as an example.

electricity water opposition government

Google

9/5/2026

News ClipInForum·Harwood, Cass County, ND

Opinion: Data center opposition growing, politicians dismiss concerns

Public opinion against data centers is growing nationally, with polls showing significant opposition, especially regarding energy and water consumption. North Dakota Republicans are criticized for dismissing these concerns as uninformed. Applied Digital's 280-megawatt data center near Harwood, North Dakota, is cited as an example of ongoing development.

opposition environmental government electricity water

Applied Digital

9/5/2026

News ClipThe Rome News-Tribune·Walker County, GA

Walker County committee weighs rules for data center growth$

A newly formed committee in Walker County, Georgia, is actively developing rules and regulations for data center development. They are discussing potential ordinances covering power, water usage, setbacks, and tax incentives. This initiative comes as the county currently lacks specific regulations for the rapidly expanding data center industry.

government zoning electricity water

9/5/2026

News ClipAlton Telegraph·Alton, Madison County, IL

Why everyone wants AI but no one wants a data center nearby | Joe Crawford$

Joe Crawford, a columnist for the Alton Telegraph, discusses the public's widespread dislike for data centers, despite the growing demand for AI and internet services they support. Residents are primarily concerned about noise pollution, high consumption of water and electricity, and the limited number of jobs created post-construction. The article, an opinion piece, highlights the paradox of wanting the benefits of technology but not the infrastructure required.

environmental opposition electricity water

9/5/2026

News ClipHuffPost·Point Pleasant, Mason County, WV

West Virginia Residents Face Disruption from Data Center Construction, Reflecting National Opposition

Residents of Point Pleasant, West Virginia, are experiencing severe disruptions, including noise, dust, and flooding, from the construction of the Nscale Monarch Compute Campus data center near their homes. This local struggle highlights a growing national backlash against data center development, with politicians and communities debating moratoriums and new regulations. Despite resident complaints, the project is ongoing, with Nscale offering buyouts to affected neighbors.

opposition environmental government electricity water

Anthropic

9/5/2026

News Clipwesanews.org·PA

Unemployment remains low in Pennsylvania, but the job market shows signs of weakening

A report by the Keystone Research Center discusses Pennsylvania's weakening job market, despite low unemployment. It also examines the impacts of data center development, urging careful evaluation of projects due to high demands on electricity, water, and land.

government electricity water environmental

9/5/2026

News ClipGreenfield Indiana·Greenfield, Hancock County, IN

Linda Dunn: Data centers bring us together - The Daily Reporter

An opinion piece highlights the bipartisan agreement among Indiana residents in their opposition to data centers due to concerns over noise, pollution, property values, strained power grids, and high water usage. While state officials offer incentives for data center development, at least 17 counties, including Marion, Marshall, and Cass, have either paused new approvals or enacted outright bans to implement stricter regulations.

opposition zoning environmental electricity water moratorium government

9/5/2026

News ClipCharleston Gazette-Mail·Mason County, WV

WV leaders ignore high public health costs from large-scale data center development

West Virginia leaders, including Gov. Patrick Morrisey, are promoting large-scale data center development despite public opposition and concerns over environmental and public health costs. Morrisey announced state approvals for two new high-impact data center projects in Mason County, bypassing local zoning control through previously enacted legislation.

environmental opposition government zoning electricity water

9/5/2026

News ClipLas Cruces Sun-News·Santa Teresa, Doña Ana County, NM

NM Attorney General backs petitions challenging Project Jupiter

The New Mexico Attorney General has filed motions in support of emergency petitions from two environmental groups challenging permits for Project Jupiter, an Oracle- and OpenAI-backed data center. The New Mexico Supreme Court previously granted stays on an air quality permit hearing and approval of water well drilling for the project. The Attorney General argues that state agencies failed to follow due process, especially regarding the emergency authorization for water extraction.

legal environmental water opposition government

Oracle OpenAI

9/5/2026

News Clipmantecabulletin.com·Manteca, San Joaquin County, CA

Manteca Mayoral Candidates Debate Data Center Development, Propose Moratorium and Wastewater Reuse

Manteca mayoral candidates Gary Singh and Jacob Naven are debating the future of data center development in the city. Naven proposed addressing data center applications proactively, while Singh agreed on a temporary moratorium and suggested utilizing the city's treated wastewater for data center cooling. The discussion highlights concerns about energy and water consumption.

opposition electricity water moratorium government environmental

9/5/2026

News ClipBlack Hills Pioneer·SD

Citizens unite against data centers$

A reader from the Black Hills Pioneer highlights widespread citizen opposition in Nebraska, New Mexico, Wyoming, and Pennsylvania against proposed AI data centers, citing concerns over farmland and water supplies. The reader urges South Dakota's congressional team to support these citizens in their vital efforts.

opposition environmental water government

9/5/2026

News ClipThe State·SC

South Carolina Counties Consider, Enact Data Center Moratoriums

At least 15 counties in South Carolina have proposed or passed temporary moratoriums on data center development, driven by resident pushback and the absence of statewide regulations. Local governments, including Newberry and Fairfield counties, are using these pauses to study the potential impacts of data centers on energy, environment, and water resources. This trend comes as the state lacks comprehensive data center policies, while projects like Meta's in Aiken County and NorthMark's in Spartanburg County continue to advance.

moratorium opposition government zoning electricity environmental water

Backlash against data centers unites Americans - THIRTEEN

Americans are increasingly united in their opposition to data centers, creating a populist backlash that politicians are struggling to address. Concerns include the physical blight, noise, and massive consumption of energy and water, which communities feel do not translate into local benefits or jobs. This growing anger could have significant political consequences for the future of AI development.

opposition government environmental electricity water

9/5/2026

News ClipDaily Gate City·Fort Madison, Lee County, IA

Planning & Zoning Commission to continue researching data center-related ordinances

The Fort Madison City Council has directed its Planning & Zoning Commission to continue developing new ordinances to regulate future high-impact industrial projects, including data centers, and to explore expanding the city's zoning authority beyond its corporate limits. This initiative follows public concern and a county-level moratorium that halted a proposed data center project just outside the city.

zoning government opposition moratorium electricity water

9/5/2026

News Clipreflector.com·NC

Donna King: Don’t let fear drive the data center debate

This opinion piece argues that the debate around data center growth in North Carolina is driven by fear and misinformation, particularly regarding water and electricity consumption. It highlights that over 30 local governments in the state, including Charlotte, have imposed temporary data center moratoriums. The author advocates for fact-based evaluation and predictable rules to guide future development rather than hysteria.

opposition moratorium electricity water government zoning

9/5/2026

News Clipvoz.us·Stone Ridge, Scott County, VA

Data centers hit the ballot box: The new political battle over AI

The rapid expansion of data centers for AI infrastructure has become a significant political issue, sparking controversy among voters due to concerns over electricity, water, land use, and community impact. This debate has entered election campaigns in key states like Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Data centers are anticipated to be a major topic in upcoming midterm elections.

electricity water environmental opposition government

9/5/2026

News Clip2 News Oklahoma KJRH Tulsa·Tulsa, Tulsa County, OK

Tulsa City Council approves data center moratorium through end of 2024

The Tulsa City Council has approved a data center moratorium through the end of 2024 to allow time to evaluate the impact of these projects on the community. This includes assessing noise, odors, water, and energy usage, and potentially making changes to the city's zoning code. Phase two of Project Anthem, a large data center, is exempt from the moratorium and is currently undergoing its rezoning process.

moratorium zoning opposition environmental government electricity water

9/5/2026