Plain English Breakdown
The official text contains formatting errors (e.g., 'recommend develop', repeated words) that obscure the precise timeline and definition details, though the core dates of June 30, 2028, and December 31, 2029, are visible.
Data Centers: Water Use Disclosures
AB-2469 stops cities and counties from approving new or expanded data centers unless builders provide specific water plans and pay for needed infrastructure upgrades.
What This Bill Does
- Prohibits local governments from issuing permits to build or expand data centers that increase peak water use without meeting set conditions.
- Requires applicants to submit a water scarcity plan, a water supply assessment, and a water use assessment before approval.
- Mandates that the applicant pays for all costs related to new water pipes, treatment, storage, or distribution systems needed for the project.
- Directs state agencies to create a separate classification for data centers as large consumptive-use facilities by 2029.
- Applies these rules to all cities and counties, including those with their own charters.
Who It Names or Affects
- Companies applying to build or expand data centers in California.
- Cities, counties, and city-counties that issue building permits.
- The Department of Water Resources and the State Water Resources Control Board.
- Urban retail water suppliers.
Terms To Know
- Discretionary or ministerial permit
- Official approvals required by local governments to allow construction or expansion of a building.
- Water scarcity plan
- A document showing how the project will handle water shortages and protect available supplies.
- CII water use classification
- A category for commercial, industrial, institutional, and large landscape users that tracks their water consumption patterns.
Limits and Unknowns
- The bill does not state an effective date in the provided text.
- Specific details on how to calculate 'maximum peak water use' are not included in this summary.
- The exact reason why no reimbursement is required for local agencies is listed as a specified reason but not explained further.