US Cities Implement Stricter Regulations for Hyperscale Data Centers

Municipal governments in the United States are introducing targeted regulations to manage the growth of hyperscale data centers, focusing on resource consumption and administrative oversight.

In Columbus, the Columbus City Council is considering three new laws to regulate water conservation, sewer line usage, and site decommissioning. The proposals would mandate water conservation plans, require detailed restoration plans for decommissioned sites, and allow the city to charge fees for sewer infrastructure improvements. These measures address the estimated 1.2 billion gallons of water data centers consume annually, which accounts for 3% of the city's total water usage.

Meanwhile, the Hayward City Council has established a new land use category for large data centers to ensure greater transparency and elected official oversight. This policy follows the approval of a 310,000-square-foot facility by STACK Infrastructure, which was approved by the Planning Commission without a council vote. Under the new rules, proposals larger than 50 MW now require a public hearing. This shift follows similar trends in the Bay Area, where cities like Oakley and Richmond have implemented or are developing moratoriums on data centers due to environmental and resource concerns.