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SCR 95

REQUESTING THE HAWAII STATE ENERGY OFFICE TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO STUDY THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF LARGE DATA CENTERS ON HAWAII'S ELECTRIC UTILITIES, RATEPAYERS, NATURAL RESOURCES, AND CLIMATE GOALS.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Stanley Chang and 8 co-sponsors

Hawaii requests study of large data centers' effects on power grid, water resources, utility costs, and climate goals before development proceeds.

Referred to EIG/AEN.
#hawaiistateenergyoffice #largedatacenters #workinggroup
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Bill Summary · SCR 95

Legislative bill overview

SCR 95 requests that Hawaii's State Energy Office establish a working group to examine how large data centers would affect the state's electrical grid, utility costs, water resources, and progress toward climate objectives. The bill does not create binding mandates but rather calls for a comprehensive study and analysis of potential impacts before any major data center development occurs.

Why is this important

Data centers consume enormous amounts of electricity and water—two resources critical to Hawaii's sustainability and affordability. As tech companies seek to expand operations in the Pacific, Hawaii must understand whether its isolated grid infrastructure can support such facilities without raising electricity rates for residents or compromising freshwater supplies and climate commitments.

Potential points of contention

  • Economic opportunity vs. environmental cost: Tech industry advocates may argue data centers create jobs and tax revenue, while environmental groups warn that Hawaii's limited power generation capacity and freshwater resources cannot support large-scale data center operations without significant tradeoffs.
  • Grid capacity and reliability: Hawaii relies on aging diesel generators and renewable sources; critics question whether the grid can handle data center loads without massive infrastructure investment that ratepayers would fund.
  • Climate goal alignment: Data centers' energy demand may conflict with Hawaii's 2045 carbon neutrality goal, unless powered entirely by renewable energy—a requirement that could make facilities economically unfeasible.

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

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