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A 5548

Requires owner or operator of data center to submit water and energy usage report to BPU.

2024-2025 Regular Session Introduced by Dave Bailey and 4 co-sponsors

New Jersey law would require data centers to report annual water and energy usage to state utilities regulator to improve environmental oversight and resource management transparency.

Substituted by S4293 (2R)
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Bill Summary · A 5548

Legislative bill overview

Assembly Bill A5548 requires data center owners and operators in New Jersey to submit annual reports on water and energy consumption to the Board of Public Utilities (BPU). The bill was introduced in April 2025 and has since been substituted by Senate Bill S4293, indicating ongoing legislative refinement of the measure.

Why is this important

Data centers consume significant energy and water resources, and transparency around these inputs helps regulators and policymakers assess environmental impacts and infrastructure strain. This reporting requirement could inform future policy decisions regarding data center regulation, sustainability standards, and resource management in New Jersey.

Potential points of contention

  • Compliance burden: Data center operators may argue that mandatory reporting creates administrative costs and competitive disadvantages compared to facilities in states without such requirements
  • Data sensitivity: Companies may resist disclosure of detailed operational metrics, claiming proprietary business information or security concerns
  • Enforcement mechanisms: The bill's actual enforcement authority, penalties for non-compliance, and BPU's resource capacity to process and act on reports remain unclear from the available information

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

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