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Data‑center bill draws sharp testimony over review process, generators and water; amendment fails and measure tabled
Summary
Senate File 13‑93, a measure addressing environmental review and permitting for data centers, provoked concern from environmental and community witnesses over backup generators, water use and transparency. The committee rejected an A8 amendment by division and later tabled the bill for further work.
Senate File 13‑93, a bill focused on environmental review for large data‑center developments, prompted multiple hours of testimony and a contested committee process before the measure was tabled on April 8.
Sponsor Senator Matthew introduced the bill, saying the measure is intended to clarify how environmental review and air permitting rules apply to backup generators at large data centers. "The permitting process ... limits when the data center generators can be run, how long they can be run, and the maximum annual emissions each site is allowed," he said, describing existing permit limits and staff estimates that many data‑center generators operate far below permitted maximums.
Opponents warned that the bill would weaken oversight for projects that can include hundreds of diesel backup generators and very large water withdrawals. "A single data center can consume up to…
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