Mukherji Helps Bring New Reporting Rules For New Jersey Data Centers

India-West News Desk

TRENTON, NJ – New Jersey data centers will face new reporting requirements for their water and energy use under a law sponsored by state Sen. Raj Mukherji and Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz.

Governor Mikie Sherrill signed the bipartisan legislation, S-3379, August 27.

Mukherji, a Democrat representing Hudson County, said the requirements are important as large data centers expand and place greater demands on the state’s energy and water resources.

“As enormous data centers expand, we need to protect New Jersey families – who are already paying too much for electricity – from higher energy costs, strained infrastructure, and increased pressure on our natural resources,” Mukherji said. “New Jersey ratepayers should not be forced to compete for scarce power or pay higher utility bills to subsidize enormous data centers and the digital economy. By mandating transparency and closely monitoring energy and water usage, we can hold data centers accountable and ensure they pay their fair share of the infrastructure.”

The law requires data center owners and operators to submit water and energy reports to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities every six months for three years. The first report is due within six months of the law taking effect. For facilities that had been operating for at least a year before implementation, the first report is due within three months.

The reports must detail total energy use, including electricity, fuels and other energy sources used for cooling. Operators must also identify the public electric utility serving the facility, electric service agreements, on-site power supplies, emergency backup systems and related permits. Energy used by information technology equipment must also be reported.

Water reports must include total and peak daily use, the source of the water, whether it is potable or reclaimed, and information on service agreements with public water systems when applicable.

Data centers receiving state financial incentives will face additional sustainability reporting requirements, including information on cooling temperatures, waste heat, renewable electricity and reused waste heat.

Ruiz, a Democrat representing Essex and Hudson counties, said the measure would give policymakers information needed to manage the state’s resources.