Letters: Will California data centers cut their water use during a drought?

"On Page 1 of the Mercury News was an article about La Niña, stating that we do not know if it will have very little effect on our water supply or if it will cause a drought. On Page 6 was an opinion column about the number of data centers in the area and the water that they use (" AI data centers must disclose how much water they require ")."

"The California Environmental Quality Act, our state's foundational environmental law, was broadly amended during aggressive budget negotiations - without public comment and on a rushed timeline. Amendments now in law include a broad and perilous exemption for "advanced manufacturing," a loosely defined category of projects that can encompass mining, semiconductor manufacturing and plastics incineration. This and other amendments that affect California's ecosystems and democratic processes are potentially harmful to public health and the environment, and must be fixed."

Uncertainty about La Niña's impacts leaves water supply projections unclear and raises the prospect of drought and mandatory conservation. Rapid growth of local data centers prompts questions about their water consumption and whether they would face the same mandatory reductions or receive exemptions that shift burdens to residents. California's Environmental Quality Act was broadly amended during rushed budget negotiations without public comment, creating a risky "advanced manufacturing" exemption that could cover mining, semiconductors and plastics incineration. AB 1083, authored by Assemblymember Damon Connolly, aims to repair CEQA and protect climate, vulnerable communities, ecosystems and democratic processes. U.S. actions are urged to expedite pledged aid to Gaza, including medical assistance.

Read at The Mercury News