The Butte County Water Commission will discuss what the process would be if there was a proposal to build an AI data center in Butte County at its meeting Wednesday afternoon. The agenda item has sparked controversy on social media over the last couple of days, with some urging public participation to express opposition. The county responded with a statement clarifying that it has not received an application or development proposal for a center. The county said the commission requested a general discussion to better understand the process for what would happen if a proposal was submitted. … Butte County says the commission’s discussion will provide an overview of how AI data centers would impact water usage. 

Other data center water use news:

• Record Searchlight (Redding, Calif.): AI data center discussion sparks skepticism in Butte County residents
• KPBS (San Diego): After months of public outcry, Imperial Valley cities are hitting the brakes on data centers
• The Arizona Republic (Phoenix): Gilbert to crack down on, deny drinking water to data centers
• Politico: Data center builders are losing the messaging war
• Center for Economic and Policy Research: Blog: The data center-driven drought is coming for the West
• Food & Water Watch: Blog: More data centers = more toxic PFAS