New Jersey lawmakers have advanced a bill that would require data centers to publicly disclose their quarterly water and electricity consumption, marking one of the nation’s first attempts to regulate the industry’s resource use. The legislation, Senate Bill 4293 and Assembly Bill 5548, awaits Governor Phil Murphy’s signature. Supporters argue that data centers—critical to artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and e-commerce—operate continuously, consume vast amounts of electricity, and use millions of gallons of water for cooling, yet remain largely opaque to the public. Advocates say transparency is essential as New Jersey faces rising energy costs and growing strain on infrastructure. Business groups, however, oppose the measure, calling it redundant given existing environmental and utility regulations, and warning it could deter investment. If enacted, the law would set a precedent for other states considering similar oversight, positioning New Jersey as a test case in balancing AI-driven growth with environmental accountability.Â
Read more at Inside Climate News: https://insideclimatenews.org/news/24092025/new-jersey-data-center-water-energy-consumption-bill/
