California lawmakers promised tough data center oversight but delivered significantly weakened bills to Gov. Newsom after tech industry lobbying.

Two surviving measures mandate water use disclosure and authorize cost-shift studies, but lack original consumer protection provisions.

Rapid AI growth is driving data center expansion, raising concerns about strain on power grids and water resources.

California lawmakers started the year signaling they were ready to get tough on data centers, aiming to protect the environment and electricity ratepayers. Nine months later, they have little to show for it.

Of four data center bills in play, two never made it out of the Legislature, including one that would have required data centers to publicize their power use and another that would have prov

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