California tightens oversight of data center energy use, grid costs

Dive Insight: California is home to 296 data centers, the third highest number in the U.S., according to Data Center Map.

“With these laws, we are ensuring that Californians remain in the driver’s seat — and that those profiting from data centers aren’t doing so at our expense.”

SB 886 and SB 887: Require data centers to pay all infrastructure upgrade and generation costs, bear a larger share of wildfire mitigation and liability costs, and undergo environmental review.

“These are some of the nation’s strongest data center ratepayer protections — stopping Big Tech from sticking California families with the bill for their data centers,” Padilla said in a statement.

AB 1577: Requires monthly reporting of data centers’ energy consumption and efficiency metrics to the California Energy Commission and estimated energy usage to local agencies as part of permitting.