Pass the Data Center Water and Energy Transparency Act

Pass the Data Center Water and Energy Transparency Act I am writing to you as a voting constituent to urge your full support for the Data Center Water and Energy Transparency Act, recently introduced by Senator Dick Durbin. As our nation experiences an unprecedented boom in data center development driven by the rise of artificial intelligence, it is critical that we establish federal oversight to protect our local resources and ensure utility affordability for everyday Americans. Currently, there is a significant lack of transparency regarding the environmental footprint of these facilities. While there are approximately 4,000 active data centers in the U.S. and another 3,000 under construction, federal law does not require them to report the quantity or source of the energy and water they consume. This makes it nearly impossible for local governments and residents to understand the true impact of these facilities on their communities. The Data Center Water and Energy Transparency Act provides a common-sense solution by: Requiring Disclosure: Mandating that data center operators report actual energy and water consumption to the states where they operate. Planning for the Future: Forcing prospective developers to provide five-year estimates of their resource needs before construction begins. Empowering Local Leaders: Making this data available to local governments so they can make informed decisions about whether a new facility is a right fit for their infrastructure. National Oversight: Directing the EPA, DOE, and USDA to aggregate this data and issue regional reports to identify broader trends and risks. The scale of consumption is staggering. Reports indicate that a single 100-megawatt data center can consume as much water as 2,600 households. In many cases, the increased demand for electricity and water leads to spiked utility bills for local residents and strains aging infrastructure, particularly in rural counties where resources must be managed with extreme care. Transparency is the first step toward accountability. Without accurate data, we cannot ensure that data center growth is sustainable or that the costs of this expansion aren't being unfairly passed on to consumers. I believe that developers owe it to the communities they enter to provide a clear accounting of their needs. I strongly encourage you to co-sponsor this legislation and work toward its swift passage. Our communities deserve to know the real cost of the digital infrastructure being built in our backyards.