California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed seven bills on Monday to regulate data centers, including measures requiring disclosures about electricity and water use.
Newsom’s office said the laws will give communities more information about resources proposed data centers would use so they can better weigh the economic costs and benefits of such projects.
“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,” Newsom said in a statement.
Under the new laws, large data centers must pay some of the costs for upgrading the electricity grid and comply with state energy procurement requirements rather than shifting those costs onto ratepayers, his office said….