Data centers Archives

August 24, 2026

Data centers are a major topic in 2026, with near-daily news coverage. They are being built in the United States...

RIDGECREST: Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority submits comments to CEC outlining basin concerns on proposed Inyokern data center

August 24, 2026

Press release from the Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority: The Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority (IWVGA) submitted a comment letter...

SJV WATER: Will AI data centers soak up the last of the valley’s water?

SJV Water

Planning and management

August 15, 2026

By Monserrat Solis and Lisa McEwen Questions about artificial intelligence and jobs, ethics, even the end of humanity may be...

COURTHOUSE NEWS: Desert data center developer challenges Imperial County moratorium in court

Courthouse News Service

Planning and management

July 29, 2026

An Imperial County Superior Court judge questioned whether the California county identified a sufficient emergency to justify a halt on...

C-WIN: Data center construction fueled by government subsidies

CA Water Impact Network (C-WIN)

Commentary Planning and management

July 2, 2026

Working and middle class communities will be paying for decades Commentary from the California Water Impact Network While most Americans...

DATA CENTERS: Alliance for Water Efficiency releases data center primer for water service providers

Guest Contributor

Planning and management

June 27, 2026

From the Alliance for Water Efficiency: The Alliance for Water Efficiency, in partnership with Los Alamos National Laboratory and the...

CAL MATTERS: This million-square-foot data center would be the biggest in the state. How local leaders are challenging it.

Cal Matters

Planning and management

June 23, 2026

A million-square-foot data center became a lighting rod in this rural county. Local leaders filed lawsuits, proposed laws and organized...

GRIST: A solution to data center backlash? Put them in oil fields.

Grist

Planning and management

June 18, 2026

A new project in California’s oil country could dodge national controversies over energy and water usage. By Jake Bittle, Grist...

CAL MATTERS: Data centers are guzzling California’s water. We have no idea how much

Cal Matters

Planning and management

May 17, 2026

Data centers are expanding into water-stressed California communities. Lax disclosure rules keep the public in the dark about actual water usage....

SJV WATER: Water a big question for proposed AI data center in eastern Kern desert

SJV Water

Planning and management

May 9, 2026

By Lois Henry, SJV Water Assurances that a “highly efficient hybrid cooling system” will keep a proposed AI data center...

INSIDE CLIMATE NEWS: California will soon have more than 300 data centers. Where will they get their water?

Inside Climate News

Planning and management

April 29, 2026

A 330-megawatt data center proposed in the Imperial Valley would need 750,000 gallons of water a day. Satisfying the thirst...

EOS: The multi-faceted water footprint of data centers

American Geophysical Union

Planning and management Research article

March 19, 2026

Data centers powering artificial intelligence consume significant amounts of water, highlighting the need for greater transparency regarding water use in...

UC RIVERSIDE: Data center water spikes could cost billions

UC Riverside

Planning and management

March 10, 2026

Study recommends technology companies expand water capacity to offset their use and preserve community supplies By David Danelski, UC Riverside...

NEW REPORT: Regulating data center water use in California

UC Berkeley

Policy and regulation Reports

February 11, 2026

New policy report examines current knowledge about data center water use and what can be done to better understand and...

RESTORE THE DELTA: New report reveals AI data center boom threatens Delta communities and ecosystems

Restore the Delta

Planning and management

January 16, 2026

Press release from Restore the Delta As artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure rapidly expands, a new white paper released today by Restore the...