California Makes Data Centers Disclose…California Makes Data Centers Disclose WaterCoverage from Sacramento Bee, Capitol Weekly, and others
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California has enacted new requirements that increase water reporting and supply review for data center projects, following research and public debate over limited disclosure of water use and plans.
The rules address concerns that local governments and water agencies may assess projects in water-stressed areas without clear information on water sources or demand. Their implementation will shape what developers must document and how communities evaluate proposed facilities.
Its Imperial County court and permitting examples show how statewide requirements meet local siting and environmental-review conflicts.
Procopio / Shawna Strecker and Daniel “Rock” Rockholt
Key Issues
01
Water disclosure and supply planning are enacted requirements
California requires data center operators to report water information and links permitting to supply assessments, scarcity planning, and necessary water infrastructure. Some requirements begin in 2028, so their practical effect still depends on implementation.
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02
Data center operators are assigned more infrastructure costs
California's laws shift more electricity-system costs, including infrastructure and generation costs, to data center operators rather than spreading them broadly among ratepayers. Tariff details and implementation remain subject to regulatory proceedings.
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03
Environmental review and local resistance constrain siting
Data centers face project-level CEQA review, while local bans, pauses, and legal challenges add approval risk. A court ruling on an Imperial County project also required project-wide review and an environmental impact report.
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Drawn from 4 articles
04
Water stress remains a material project risk
Data center proposals continue to intersect with strained water supplies, including an Imperial County project associated with Colorado River water and unresolved source and reliability concerns. New disclosure and planning requirements may improve visibility but do not remove drought or local water-system risks.
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Drawn from 4 articles
Key Numbers
first six months of 2026
period covered by the lobbying analysis
“An analysis by CalMatters of lobbying activity during the first six months of 2026 found that utilities, technology companies and their proxies spent millions lobbying state lawmakers, with data center bills a primary focus.”
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millions dollars
lobbying spending by utilities, technology companies and proxies
“An analysis by CalMatters of lobbying activity during the first six months of 2026 found that utilities, technology companies and their proxies spent millions lobbying state lawmakers, with data center bills a primary focus.”
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seven bills
California bills regulating data centers
advanced by state lawmakers
“Companies backing data center construction are flooding Sacramento with cash as California lawmakers advance seven bills that would regulate the facilities.”
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AB 1577
bill requiring data center water-use disclosure or estimates
“Among the measures are bills requiring disclosure or estimates of water use, including AB 2619, AB 1577 and AB 2469. SB 887 would require environmental reviews for all data center projects while offering expedited approval to facilities that meet water- and energy-conservation standards.”
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SB 887
bill requiring environmental review for data center projects
with expedited approval for facilities meeting conservation standards
“Among the measures are bills requiring disclosure or estimates of water use, including AB 2619, AB 1577 and AB 2469. SB 887 would require environmental reviews for all data center projects while offering expedited approval to facilities that meet water- and energy-conservation standards.”
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Looking Back
141 Day Timeline
Articles published over time. Hover any bar for the period and its article count.
May 14
Jun 7
Jun 28
Jul 22
Aug 15
Sep 5
Sep 29
The Story So Far
No material change
New details on California’s enacted laws clarify that data center projects generally lose categorical CEQA exemptions and must undergo at least an initial study, even when local zoning allows them. A streamlined litigation path remains available only to projects meeting strict conditions, including water-efficient or recycled-water use.
Previously
California has moved to require more water-use disclosure and water-supply planning for data center projects, following research that found public information on water demand and sources was often missing or incomplete. The requirements are part of a broader package of state laws addressing data center impacts, while implementation will depend on further regulatory work. The changes matter because projects are planned in areas where groundwater and surface-water supplies are already under strain.
History
09/29/2026
California’s data center rules have moved from proposed measures to enacted law: Governor Newsom signed a package on September 21. The requirements include water-supply and scarcity planning, though their practical effect still depends on regulatory implementation.
09/16/2026
California’s data-center debate has broadened from disclosure requirements into a wider fight over environmental review, siting, grid costs, and infrastructure responsibility. Local opposition has also produced concrete bans, moratoria, and delayed approvals, while the CPUC and industry groups become more central.
California and U.S. communities reported over 100 protests against proposed hyperscale data centers, citing electricity and water impacts amid vetoed water-use disclosure legislation in 2024.
California lawmakers are urged to strengthen AB2619 and AB2469 to provide technical assistance and statewide coordination for data center cooling water disclosures.
States and some municipalities require additional water disclosures and permitting for data centers, including closed-loop cooling and reclaimed-water use in water-scarce areas.
California lawmakers advance Assembly Bills 2469 and 2619 to require data center water-use disclosure and integrate water planning as AI-driven demand accelerates.
Santa Clara University researchers released a California data center water access and environmental justice report identifying limited public disclosure and acute overlap in Imperial County and Sacramento.
University of Georgia Cooperative Extension TP 121 links data center cooling expansion to groundwater and surface-water withdrawal and discharge impacts, including Clean Water Act and NPDES permitting and reporting changes from Georgia Senate Bill 421.
Next 10 and Santa Clara University released a May 2026 California report connecting data center development, water scarcity, and environmental justice across Santa Clara, Los Angeles, Sacramento, Gilroy, and Imperial County.
Next10 and Santa Clara University report prompts California lawmakers to reintroduce data-center water-use disclosure bills after Gov. Gavin Newsom veto.
Next10 and Santa Clara University researchers in California reported limited public data center water-use disclosure as new bills by Assemblymember Diane Papan face opposition from industry groups.
SYRCL and California Coastkeeper Alliance backed AB 2469 and AB 2619 to require California data center water-use disclosure before and after local approvals.
California lawmakers introduced AB 2469 and AB 2619 to require projected and annual data center water reporting for local approvals, following a Newsom veto of similar bills.
Next10 and Santa Clara University researchers reported limited public water-use disclosure for California data centers as lawmakers advance new water-reporting and approval rules.
Next10 and Santa Clara University researchers report limited public data center water-use disclosure in California and cite proposed bills after a Newsom veto.
Next10 and Santa Clara University researchers reported limited public water-use disclosure for California data centers as lawmakers advanced bills on disclosure and overdrafted-basin approval limits.
Assemblymember Diane Papan advances California bills requiring data center water-use disclosure and restricting approvals in overdrafted groundwater basins after a Newsom veto.
Water UK told a parliamentary committee that England water forecasts under AI Growth Zones exclude data centers, despite drought-driven supply constraints.
California lawmakers are considering AB 2469 and AB 2619 to require data center water planning, infrastructure funding, and demand disclosures statewide.
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed seven data center bills on September 21, 2026, establishing new energy, water, labor, grid-cost, and environmental requirements across California.
State lawmakers in Virginia, California, Iowa, South Carolina, Illinois, and Georgia are proposing or implementing data center water rules in the United States in response to rising AI demand.
8/5/2026 • Water & Cooling • General
Getches-Wilkinson Center / Daniel Anderson and Sydney Stellato69
Getches-Wilkinson Center report analyzes how states address data center water use under AI-driven growth, focusing on reporting, conservation, incentives, and prior appropriation.
Google and other hyperscalers faced water-scarcity scrutiny as evaporative-cooling designs and water-use disclosures adapted to local hydrology, regulations, and permitting outcomes.
6/3/2026 • Water & Cooling • General
Procopio / Shawna Strecker and Daniel “Rock” Rockholt69
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed seven data center laws on September 21 in California, setting electricity, water, and CEQA requirements for project development.
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed seven bills on September 21, 2026, requiring expanded environmental review, resource reporting, and infrastructure cost payments for data centers across California.
California lawmakers approved water-disclosure bills for data centers in Sacramento, requiring developers and operators to report water plans and potentially fund related infrastructure.
California lawmakers are considering seven data center bills in Sacramento during 2026 amid lobbying by technology companies, utilities and industry groups and opposition from communities concerned about costs, water and grid capacity.
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed seven data center laws on September 21, 2026, in California, requiring environmental review, resource disclosures, water planning, and utility cost responsibility.
California lawmakers considered seven data center regulation bills in Sacramento during the first half of 2026 as technology companies, utilities, and community groups intensified lobbying and opposition.
8/31/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Lost Coast Outpost / Katherine Ortiz and Khari Johnson62
California lawmakers and industry lobbyists are contesting seven data center bills in Sacramento during the 2026 legislative session over water use, environmental reviews, and grid costs.
8/28/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
The Business Journal / Katherine Ortiz; Khari Johnson with CalMatters62
California lawmakers considered seven data center regulation bills in Sacramento during 2026 as companies, utilities and industry groups lobbied over costs, water use and environmental review.
Utah and neighboring Western states weigh AI data-center expansion against shrinking reservoir supplies amid calls for stronger water reporting and enforcement.
Google selected air cooling for an Arizona data center near Phoenix to address water scarcity while Arizona regulators weigh power interconnection timelines and cost allocation amid AI-driven demand.
Florida researchers and water officials are urging deeper review of data center projects in 2026 because drought and groundwater withdrawals threaten connected springsheds.
Coachella imposed a 45-day data center moratorium after public turnout on June 4, as California advances SB 886 and SB 887 following statewide polling on June 24 committee review.
6/17/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
California lawmakers approved bills directing the California Public Utilities Commission to establish special electricity rates and interconnection rules for large data centers before September 30 gubernatorial action.
California lawmakers passed seven data center regulation bills during the final legislative week in Sacramento, requiring resource reporting, environmental reviews, and special electricity rates.
Next 10 and Santa Clara University researchers report that hyperscale data center water demand increases California water stress and environmental justice concerns amid limited public oversight.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said data-center expansion is increasing electricity, water, and infrastructure-cost concerns in California and other major U.S. markets.
DataBank operates an Irvine, California, data center supporting critical customers while lawmakers and communities scrutinize electricity demand, backup generators, and environmental impacts.
7/30/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
California lawmakers advanced Senate Bills 886 and 887 to regulate data center electricity costs and clean-energy requirements before the legislative session ends.
California Senate Bills 886 and 887 advance after May 26 passage, with SB 886 tariffing transmission hookup costs to builders and SB 887 adjusting CEQA approvals for recycled-water projects.
California State Senate passed SB 886 and SB 887 in 2020s legislation authored by Steve Padilla, targeting ratepayer transmission costs and CEQA-related environmental review for data centers.
5/26/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Los Angeles Times / Dakota Smith and Blanca Begert50
After weeks of negotiations in Sacramento, California lawmakers finalized bills directing the California Public Utilities Commission to regulate data center electricity rates and infrastructure costs.
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed seven data center laws on September 21, 2026, establishing power cost requirements and reporting rules across California.
On September 30, 2026, Governor Gavin Newsom signed California SB 887, requiring most data center projects in California to undergo CEQA review while offering qualifying projects a streamlining path.
Monterey Park residents voted to permanently ban data centers as California Senate passed SB 886 and SB 887 requiring additional reviews and transmission-cost charges for large facilities.
California Governor Gavin Newsom rejected a data-center water-disclosure bill as Monterey Park and Seattle advanced local restrictions and anti-data-center advocacy grew.
Arizona ACC incumbents Kevin Thompson and Nick Myers debate whether data centers should pay their own infrastructure costs and how water should be managed for large loads.
The California Legislature passed data center tariff measures requiring facilities to cover electricity and transmission costs in California, with Governor Gavin Newsom facing a September 30 deadline.
California lawmakers are considering energy, water, and environmental rules for data centers as technology companies lobby against the proposals amid growing public opposition.
California lawmakers passed two data center bills in Sacramento on Monday, directing special electricity rates and permitting requirements to address large facilities' effects on ratepayers and infrastructure.
The California Legislature approved SB 1168 in Sacramento on Monday, directing the CPUC to evaluate data-center costs for grid upgrades and utility rate protection.
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