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House committee backs bill requiring data centers to report water use; reporting window shortened
Summary
A House committee favorably recommended a substitute to HB 76 on March 4, 2025, requiring preconstruction and annual water-use reporting from large data centers; the committee amended the bill to shorten the preconstruction reporting window from 180 to 90 days and adopted facility-level public reporting and other transparency measures.
A Utah House committee on March 4 favorably recommended first substitute HB 76, a bill that would require large data centers to submit preconstruction water-use reports and annual disclosures to the Division of Water Rights.
Sponsor testimony described rapid data center growth in Utah and gaps in state knowledge about diversions, use and discharge. The substitute redefines a "large data center" as a facility with at least 10,000 square feet and required preconstruction reporting; the committee amended a 180-day preconstruction notice to 90 days for projects beginning Jan. 1, 2027.
The bill directs operators to submit a preconstruction water-use estimate and ongoing annual reports comparing projected and actual use, identifying conservation measures and providing future projections. The state engineer would…
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