Data Centers take up vast tracts of land (197 - over 400 acres) and consume hundreds of gallons of water and thousands of megawatts in electrical consumption. Data centers will severely tax and lower water tables especially during periods of drought and extended drought through excessive consumption. These Data centers will overburden electric grids and substations as well especially during peak consumption periods. Why can't Data centers use public water systems from water treatment plants or desalination water from the Atlantic or the Chesapeake Bay? Why can't they use retention ponds and recycle water they are using through specialized cooling systems much like a radiator, cooling coils or other modern cooling systems? Who is going to pay for the higher demand? Are these Dta centers going to be given tax breaks? Are consumers going to pay the higher utility bills because of these data centers?

Nature Forward strongly supports SB553. This is a reporting bill which would provide transparency on how much water municipal suppliers are providing to data centers. Knowledge is power! Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is in the process of creating Regional Water Supply Plans and this data is critical to the success of those plans given the fact that Virginia, namely NOVA, has a higher concentration of data centers than anywhere else in the world. For data centers using water cooling, this information is critical. Please vote “yes” in support of SB553.