Legislators explore the impact of data centers on Oklahoma's resources

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — An interim study hosted by Rep. Amanda Clinton (D-Tulsa) gave legislators a look at the impact data centers may have on state resources like water and energy.

The Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) presented its findings on how much water is available in the state, not including periods of drought.

Yohanes Sugeng, an Engineering Manager with the OWRB, explained that the findings show the surface water in some basins is already fully allocated.

"If we look at statewide, we have water, but certain areas it doesn't have enough water for certain things," Sugeng explained.

The study also pulled in analysts from Virginia's Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC). They presented their findings from data centers in Virginia, a state with one of the largest data center markets in the world.

Analysts Mark Gribbin and Scarlett Saunders with JLARC explained that their research found data centers to use around the same amount of water daily as a large office building, but water use increases if a data center has multiple buildings on its campus.

Additionally, the energy use of data centers is also a point of concern for some.

Tiffani Jackson, the Vice President of External Affairs for the Public Service Company of Oklahoma, says they are looking at ways to navigate large-scale growth that doesn't result in costs skyrocketing for customers.

"Our commitment is to protect existing customers by ensuring that new customers, including data centers, pay for the cost they create," said Jackson.

The Payne County Commissioner, Rhonda Markum, also joined the discussion, reminding those present of the issues some Stillwater residents experienced living near the construction site of a data center.

"The rains we had on April 30th and all this water that was running off, across the road, is a housing development, and they had a pond back there. All of this clay went into their pond and killed the fish and killed a lot of the life in that pond," Markum said.

As the study concluded, Rep. Mike Dobrinski (R-Okeene) was still apprehensive about the amount of water data centers use to operate.

"I have a big concern for water because I haven't heard anything in the room today that gives me a great level of comfort that we have the ability to produce more," Rep. Dobrinski said.

Although there is still more to be learned about the impacts data centers will have on Oklahoma's resources, Rep. Clinton says she is glad the study took place.

"I hope that this starts a conversation moving forward about what is the best way to expand our economy while also protecting our resources and putting Oklahomans first," Rep. Clinton added in her closing remarks.