A proposed data center in Kern County, California, is drawing scrutiny over data center water use as state regulators weigh how much environmental review is needed for the project. The proposed RB Inyokern Data Center project would draw roughly 40,430 gallons of water per day from a groundwater basin already in overdraft that are under active legal adjudication.
The project includes 40 diesel-fired generators capable of producing up to 99 megawatts of backup power, just under the 100-megawatt threshold that triggers California's full Application for Certification process. By filing for a Small Power Plant Exemption instead, the developer is seeking a faster review path that would still require state regulators to confirm the project creates no substantial adverse impact on the environment.
More than 150 public comments have been submitted to the California Energy Commission, raising the data center water use issue alongside concerns about cumulative strain on the area's groundwater management plan. Supporters of the project counter that it could bring new investment, jobs, and infrastructure improvements to the region.
California currently hosts more than 200 data centers, a number expected to grow rapidly alongside demand for AI and cloud computing. The outcome of the Inyokern review could shape how future projects are evaluated for their water impacts statewide.
