Colorado lawmakers abandoned a last-minute effort Monday to pass environmental regulations for data center development in the state. … The bill, also sponsored by Rep. Kyle Brown, D-Louisville, would have required data center companies to pay the full cost for the power needed to run their facilities. It also would have ensured that data centers don’t blow the state’s greenhouse gas emission reductions targets, intended to stave off the worst effects of climate change. Data center companies would have had to compete for two available 15-year sales and use tax exemptions per year, on criteria like clean energy and participation in grid resiliency programs. They would have also been judged on the quality of jobs created, community benefits and investments and water efficiency.

Other data center water use news:

• Axios Salt Lake City: New Utah law limits opposition to massive data center proposal
• NBC Palm Springs (Calif.): Coachella residents confront developers over massive proposed data center at heated town hall
• Wyoming Public Media: Lawmakers talk data centers as developers look to expand in Wyoming
• Politico: A data center drained 30M gallons of water unnoticed — until residents complained about low water pressure
• Farm Press: Opinion: Tech growth must not drain Western farmland
• Governing: Opinion: An honest conversation we need about data centers