CLICS/CLICS2026A/commsumm.nsf
PUBLIC
BILL SUMMARY For DISCUSSION ON LARGE LOAD DATA CENTER WATER USE
JOINT COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ON WATER RESOURCES AND AGRICULTURE REVIEW COMMITTEE
Date Jun 25, 2026
Location HCR 0112
Discussion on Large Load Data Center Water Use - Committee Discussion Only
|
|
|
03:26:32 PM |
Lindsay Rogers, Western Resource Advocates, introduced her presentation and gave an overview of water and energy impacts of data center growth, the additional impacts of hyperscale data centers, the relationship between water and energy, the various systems used for cooling data centers estimated water demands, where water for data centers comes from, and potential water policies related to AI. |
|
03:36:55 PM |
Kyri Baker, Associate Professor, University of Colorado, Boulder, introduced her presentation and gave an overview of AI data center challenges in Colorado. She discussed the differences between traditional data centers and AI data centers. AI data centers utilize more water and power and cannot be air-cooled like traditional data centers. Ms. Baker provided a comparison of the amount of water necessary evaporative/open-loop, closed-loop dry/air-cooled, and hybrid/adiabatic cooling systems used in AI data centers. |
|
03:45:52 PM |
Tom Klein, Policy
Associate, National Conference of State Legislatures, introduced his presentation
and gave an overview of state policy trends regarding data centers and
water usage. He discussed how 9 States have pending legislation in 2026
directly addressing data center water usage or related environmental impacts,
13 states have enacted legislation addressing data center water use, and
13 states introduced bills in 2025-26 that did not pass. According to Mr.
Klein, policy proposals span multiple approaches, including water reporting,
permitting, efficiency standards, and siting requirements. |
|
03:52:28 PM |
The panelists responded to questions from the committee about how local control influences state legislation on AI data centers. |
