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Committee weighs closed‑loop cooling, withdrawal permits and PFAS monitoring for data centers

Senate Natural Resources (Natural Resources & Energy) · May 7, 2026
AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

Draft language would require closed‑loop cooling or approved alternatives, trigger surface‑water withdrawal assessments at a future regulatory threshold, and require PFAS monitoring and discharge limits tied to water‑quality standards or EPA reporting limits; committee debated feasibility and implementation timing.

Lawmakers and agency staff debated draft provisions aimed at limiting the water‑use and wastewater impacts of proposed data centers, and at ensuring monitoring for per‑ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in discharges.

Committee members reviewed language that would require closed‑loop cooling systems for data centers using water for cooling, or an alternative system approved by the district commission that must "minimize groundwater or surface water use and…

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