SACRAMENTO, California — Three state lawmakers introduced bills this week aimed at curbing the amounts of electricity and water used to power artificial intelligence and data processing centers amid renewed scrutiny over the state’s water management.
Two bills aim to nudge data centers toward sustainable electricity and water use, while two others would hold the facilities to new energy accountability and transparency rules.
Freshwater availability, a perennial hot topic in California, is back in the spotlight this week after reports that some high-elevation hydrants ran dry as fire crews raced to prevent catastrophic blazes from torching Los Angeles-area homes.
The disaster has magnified claims — some of which are misleading or oversimplified — among high-profile politicians like President-elect Donald Trump that California inefficiently manages its water system.
