Bill intended to protect water from data center developers heads to Idaho Senate

A bill advancing through the Idaho Legislature is designed to protect water for Idaho’s farmers and other existing water users as new data centers are built.

The Idaho Senate’s Resources and Environment Committee voted Thursday afternoon to send House Bill 895 to the Senate floor with a recommendation it passes. 

Sponsoring Rep. Britt Raybould, R-Rexburg, said the bill would encourage developers of data centers to use closed-loop, nonconsumptive systems to cool equipment instead of using evaporative or hybrid cooling systems that consume much more water to cool equipment. 

The bill states, “Data centers … that begin construction on or after July 1, 2026, may not use water for cooling purposes as a consumptive use, unless the water is supplied by a municipal, water district, or water and sewer district water system.”

The statement of purpose attached to the bill said it is designed to help ensure that limited water resources will continue to be available to existing water users like agriculture operators and industry users as new data centers are established. 

Raybould told the Senate Resources and Environment Committee that some large evaporative cooling systems can use 50 megawatts of power and 100 million gallons of water per year. 

“House Bill 895 tackles an issue that I believe both of our (legislative) bodies have been wrestling with during the session as it relates to both water usage and energy consumption with our data center facilities,” Raybould said.

The Idaho House already voted 58-10 on March 20 to pass House Bill 895. If the Idaho Senate also votes to pass the bill, it would be sent to Gov. Brad Little for final consideration. If the bill reaches his desk, Little could sign it into law, veto it or allow it to become law without his signature.