Delaware Weighs New Data Center Rules Amid Project Washington's Massive Power Needs
Delaware lawmakers are considering new regulations for data centers following the proposed Project Washington. The project's substantial electricity needs have sparked concern, with Democratic Rep. Frank Burns highlighting the need for regulatory tools to manage data centers' impact on the state's economy.
Project Washington, if completed, would use as much electricity as every home in Delaware combined, equivalent to 1.2 gigawatts per hour. This significant energy demand has prompted discussions about limiting data centers in Delaware. While no recent news today details these discussions, it's known that new limits are under consideration.
SB 205, sponsored by Democratic chairs of the House's and Senate's energy committees, proposes that businesses drawing more than 30 megawatts of electricity need approval from the Public Service Commission. This bill is a response to the proposed Project Washington, a mega-development near the Delaware City Refinery, which would be one of the few data centers in the state.
Delaware is weighing new regulations for data centers, with Project Washington's substantial electricity needs driving the conversation. SB 205, if passed, would introduce approval requirements for high-energy consuming data centers, marking a step towards managing the impact of such facilities on the state's economy.
