US data center electricity use could more than double by 2030, water use could quadruple by 2028

US data centre electricity consumption could exceed 426 TWh by 2030 (more than doubling from current levels), whilst water use could quadruple by 2028, creating acute supply pressures on regional grids and freshwater availability. Policy responses reveal tension between state economic incentives for data centre development and local environmental and community concerns.

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