Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Data Centers Energy Water topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee supports bills to require data centers to report energy and water use
Summary
The committee discussed AB 222 and AB 93, bills to require energy and water use disclosure from data centers; staff and members expressed support, citing hidden resource demands from AI and the need for utilities and planners to have accurate data.
Townsend representatives briefed the committee on two bills aimed at increasing transparency around data center resource use: AB 222 (energy tracking) and AB 93 (water reporting).
AB 222 would require the California Energy Commission to track energy use from data centers and to publish data that helps utilities and planners understand demand. AB 93 would require data center owners/operators to provide under penalty of perjury an estimate of their water use before applying for local permits or business licenses.
Why it matters: Committee members and staff said data centers and large AI facilities carry substantial hidden energy and cooling water demands; accurate upfront information is necessary for local planning, water allocation and for utilities to evaluate cost and renewable portfolio effects.
Discussion and details: Staff described earlier iterations that placed reporting burdens on utilities; subsequent changes shifted the reporting requirement to data centers themselves, with utilities and the state receiving the data for planning. The committee noted that the bills would help cities and utilities assess whether local infrastructure and renewable procurement can meet future data center demand.
Committee direction: Committee members expressed support for the bills and for proactive local engagement. No formal vote was taken at the meeting; staff will monitor the bills and consider letters of support in coordination with regional partners.
Ending: Members said the measures fit Santa Barbara’s sustainability brand by exposing the resource costs of AI and data center expansion and enabling better local planning.
