Virginia lacks centralized tracking of water use by data centers. The following bill will enhance transparency, oversight, and planning.
Why it Matters: The expansion of data centers in Virginia (data centers can use millions of gallons of water a day to cool their servers) comes at a time when groundwater supplies are dwindling, and surface waters are experiencing increasingly variable flows.
The Proposed Bill: HB589 stipulates that any water user required to register water withdrawal and use data that provides water to a data center with an air permit issued by the Department of Environmental Quality shall report to the Board the total volume of water, including the portion that is reclaimed water.
Why it’s needed: The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, whose responsibility it is to ensure safe and stable water supplies are available for all Virginians, does not currently receive data related to how much water is used by data centers in Virginia.
TAKE ACTION: This bill will likely be heard on Wednesday, February 11th, at 7:30am. Email or call the members of the House Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources – Natural Resources Subcommittee to request that they support HB589 by Tuesday, February 10th. You can also join us in Richmond to testify in support of the bill!
- Kathy KL Tran: (804) 698-1018 DelKTran@house.virginia.gov
- Charniele L. Herring: (804) 698-1004 DelCHerring@house.virginia.gov
- Jackie Hope Glass: (804) 698-1093 DelJGlass@house.virginia.gov
- Nadaruis E. Clark: (804) 698-1084 DelNClark@house.virginia.gov
- Phil M. Hernandez: (804) 698-1094 DelPHernandez@house.virginia.gov
- John C. McAuliff: (804) 698-1030 DelJMcAuliff@house.virginia.gov
- Lily V. Franklin: (804) 698-1041 DelLFranklin@house.virginia.gov
- R. Lee Ware: (804) 698-1072 DelLWare@house.virginia.gov
- Thomas C. Wright, Jr.: (804) 698-1050 DelTWright@house.virginia.gov
- Hillary Pugh Kent: (804) 698-1067 DelHKent@house.virginia.gov
- Alfonso H. Lopez: (804) 698-1003 DelALopez@house.virginia.gov
So email your state representatives today –
We have sample language below, but to make the most impact, we strongly recommend you personalize the content. Tell your story!
Email Subject: Please Support HB589
Email Body:
I’m emailing you today because I am concerned that the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), whose responsibility it is to ensure safe and stable water supplies are available for all Virginians, does not currently receive data related to how much water is used by data centers in Virginia.
The expansion of data centers, which can use millions of gallons of water a day to cool their servers, comes at a time when groundwater supplies are dwindling, and surface waters are experiencing increasingly variable flows.
That’s why I am hoping that you will vote for legislation to require that data centers’ water usage is reported to DEQ regularly. This forthcoming legislation would ensure that DEQ has all the data they need to be an effective steward of Virginia’s water resources.
I support HB589. Please pass this bill to ensure safe and stable water supplies are available for all Virginians
Sincerely,
[YOUR NAME]