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Committee advances bill giving DEP oversight of data-center water withdrawals amid local-control concerns
Summary
The committee voted to report HB 2246, which would authorize the Department of Environmental Protection to oversee water withdrawals for data centers and require reporting on volumes and temperatures. Supporters said the measure adds transparency; opponents warned it could duplicate existing regional authorities and create extra regulation.
The House Environmental Committee voted to report House Bill 2246 to the full House after a debate over whether the Department of Environmental Protection should have explicit oversight of water withdrawals tied to data centers.
Sponsor Rep. Webster told the committee 'this bill does basically two things' and 'creates the authority for the Department of Environmental Protections to have oversight of the process where water rights and other…
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