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Bill

HR 10004

Defending Our Energy and Water Act

119th Congress Introduced by Hillary Scholten and 1 co-sponsor

The bill requires new federal data centers to use water-efficient cooling and protect water resources, tying these standards to energy-efficiency goals.

Introduced in House
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HR 10004

Overview

Defending Our Energy and Water Act (H.R. 10004) is a 2026 bill that amends title 10 of the United States Code to incorporate requirements related to water-resource protection in data centers. The measure focuses on ensuring data centers used by the federal government (and potentially military operations) adopt water-efficient cooling and related technologies to bolster water resilience and sustainability.

Main purpose and intent

  • Establish minimum data-center water-resource protections for new federal data centers.
  • Promote the use of the most water-efficient cooling systems.
  • Extend certain statutory timelines to allow for longer-term planning and implementation of these protections.
  • Integrate water-efficiency considerations into energy-efficiency targets for data centers operated by the Department of Defense and other federal entities.

Key provisions and changes

  1. Minimum requirements for new data centers (Section 2(a))

    • Deadline: Within 180 days after enactment, the Administrator of the Office of E-Government must revise the minimum requirements for new data centers. These revised standards must address protections for water resources and require adoption of the most water-efficient cooling systems where feasible.
    • Sunset extension: The sunset date under the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA 2015) for related data center requirements is extended. Specifically, the statute currently setting a sunset in 2026 would be amended to extend it to 2031.

  2. Expanded energy-efficiency targets for data centers (Section 2(b))

    • Technical edits to the energy-efficiency targets in current law are proposed:
      • Reorganize subparagraphs within 10 U.S.C. 2921(a)(1) to insert a new requirement.
      • Add new language requiring data-center programs to identify and integrate water-efficiency technologies to enhance resiliency and minimize water-resource impacts.

  3. Administrative coordination

    • The bill directs updates to the federal data-center standards through existing channels (the Office of Electronic Government) and ties water-protection standards to broader energy-efficiency goals.

Who would be affected

  • Federal data centers, particularly those operated by the Department of Defense and other federal agencies subject to NDAA data-center standards.
  • Federal program managers responsible for implementing and complying with data-center efficiency and resilience requirements.
  • Agencies involved in water-resource management and environmental compliance as they relate to federal IT infrastructure.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduction: July 30, 2026.
  • Referral: Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Committee on Armed Services, with consideration by the relevant committees as determined by the Speaker.
  • Implementation timeline:
    • Within 180 days of enactment: Revised minimum data-center requirements focusing on water protections and the use of water-efficient cooling systems.
    • Sunset extension: Move the sunset from 2026 to 2031 for the related NDAA 2015 data-center provisions.
  • Legislative status: Introduced and referred to committees; no floor passage or enacted text provided in the excerpt.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Enhances federal data-center water security by mandating water-resource protections and efficiency.
  • Encourages adoption of advanced cooling technologies to reduce freshwater use and environmental strain.
  • Aligns data-center operations with broader federal energy and environmental goals.
  • Could entail upfront capital costs for new cooling systems or retrofits, balanced by long-term water savings and resilience.

Note: The bill as presented focuses on amending existing NDAA-era data-center standards and adding explicit water-resource considerations, rather than creating entirely new programs.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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