… As lake levels decline, Hoover Dam’s power generation capacity decreases. Federal officials plan to cut the dam’s output by up to 40 percent. Analysts warn that the reduction will result in higher electric bills for families in the Las Vegas Valley, compounding long-term concerns about the region’s water supply. The declining lake levels formed the backdrop of a more than four-hour Boulder City Council meeting Tuesday night, where members debated the potential impact of a proposed data center on the city’s water and power infrastructure. The data center was approved at the federal level for Bureau of Land Management-owned land within the city’s jurisdiction. The council voted unanimously to appeal the BLM’s approval of the data center, citing concerns that the project could require the city’s local utilities and emergency services.

Other data center water use news:

• FOX13 (Salt Lake City): Here’s how much water Kevin O’Leary’s partner says data center will use and what it could mean for Utah
• GovTech: Lawmakers weigh increased scrutiny for data center water use
• Los Angeles Times: Californians back CEQA reform, reject AI data centers by huge margins, poll finds
• E&E News by Politico: ‘A better way to be relevant’: Greens embrace data center fight
• Mongabay: Indigenous advocates push for rights protections around AI data centers
• The Atlantic: Commentary: The truth about AI’s water use