California mandates data centers disclose energy and water usage starting 2025

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a package of bills on Monday requiring greater transparency from data center operators regarding their electricity and water consumption. The legislation responds to growing community concerns about how AI infrastructure is straining local power grids and water supplies across the state. Protests have emerged in several US communities where data centers have expanded rapidly, driven largely by frustration over the secrecy surrounding their resource usage. Beginning next year, data center operators in California will be required to begin reporting their consumption figures under the new disclosure rules. While the measures fall short of providing a complete picture, they represent a significant step toward giving residents and regulators more insight into the sector's environmental footprint.