Bill > AB2469

This bill prevents local governments from approving permits to build new data centers—facilities that house large groups of networked computer servers often requiring massive amounts of water for cooling—or to expand existing ones unless specific, stringent water and workforce requirements are met. Under this legislation, data center developers must submit a water supply assessment to prove adequate water availability, provide projected water use and efficiency measures, and share detailed disclosures regarding their estimated workforce, including job classifications, wages, and local hiring proportions. Additionally, starting January 1, 2028, applicants must provide a "water scarcity plan," which is a formal report detailing how the facility will reduce water consumption during various levels of drought classified by the United States Drought Monitor (ranging from abnormally dry to exceptional drought years) through strategies like recycling, reducing nonessential water use, and temporarily cutting back operations. Finally, the bill requires the data center applicant to pay the full cost of any necessary local water infrastructure improvements, such as pipes, treatment facilities, or storage systems, as determined by the local water supplier.