Committee reviews H.727’s data-center rules, focusing on water permits, Act 250 and PFAS

The Natural Resources & Energy committee on April 23 heard extended testimony on H.727, the bill that would set regulatory triggers and permitting requirements for large data centers. Witnesses and agency staff debated where technical water reviews should be handled, whether closed‑loop cooling or stricter groundwater rules should be required, and how to address PFAS chemicals in cooling systems.

Fred Baker of the Public Utility Commission said the PUC "is basically fine with the bill," noting the PUC worked with the House on Section 5 language that requires a regional renewable energy report. But much of the day’s discussion centered on Sections 3–6, which address energy triggers, permitting and decommissioning.

Why it matters: committee members and agency representatives warned that large data centers can use and affect substantial water and energy resources. Presenters said the bill’s 20‑megawatt threshold is the minimum used to define a "primary" data center in the draft and triggers additional review; they also said permitting language will determine whether local water users, fisheries and habitat get adequate protections.

Presenters described the water tradeoffs of cooling systems. A committee…