Authority asks California Energy Commission to include GA in data‑center water evaluation, cites critically overdrafted basin

Staff summarized a letter the board sent on July 15 to the California Energy Commission asking the CEC to recognize the Groundwater Authority as an interested party in the water‑supply evaluation for a proposed data center. The water resource manager said the letter explains the authority's position that the basin is "critically overdrafted" and asks the CEC to acknowledge GA authorities and any assessments associated with imported water supply for the project.

"The letter itself provided current status of our basin, indicating that we are certainly a still a critically overdrafted basin," the water resource manager said, summarizing the packet entry and explaining the GA requested participation in the CEC evaluation. He further said the GSP describes the authority's imported water project and that if pumping for a data center caused another supplier to exceed allocations, the authority would require assessments associated with imported water supply.

Public commenters thanked the authority for submitting the letter and others reported they had also submitted opposition letters to the CEC. Staff said they will continue to participate in the CEC evaluation and that the authority will press for data requirements deemed necessary by groundwater sustainability agencies.