HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-10-15 Protect Ke'opuka Ohana Testimony ,t mtg
PROTECT KE`OPUKA OHANA
r
Evidence Brief: Potential Impacts of Large Data Cente `S
in Hawaii
Prepared October 15, 2026 I For public testimony, agency review, and community education
Purpose. Present documented national data-center resource demands, Hawai'i-specific policy concerns, and
practical safeguards. All water quantities below are expressed in U.S. gallons. National totals are not
predictions of water use by a particular proposed Hawai'i facility.
1 I The water evidence: what the Berkeley Lab report actually shows
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), in its December 2024 report to the U.S. Department of Energy,
estimated that U.S. data centers consumed approximately 17.44 billion U.S. gallons of water directly on site in
2023 (original source estimate: 66 billion liters).This equals approximately 47.77 million U.S. gallons per day
nationwide, averaged over the year. [1]
The same report projected direct on-site U.S. data-center water consumption of roughly 38.3 to 72.6 billion U.S.
gallons per year by 2028 (based on approximately 145-275 billion liters). These are national scenarios, not
measured outcomes. [1]
Critical distinction: "Water consumption" is not the same as total water withdrawn or circulated. Consumption
generally refers to water not returned to its source, including evaporation. Data centers also have indirect
water impacts through electricity generation, which depend on the power source. Avoid adding these
categories together without a consistent accounting method. [1]
2 I Electricity, ratepayers, and island-grid reliability
The U.S. Department of Energy reported that data centers used approximately 176 terawatt-hours, or 4.4% of
U.S. electricity, in 2023. The 2024 LBNL scenarios estimated 6.7%-12% of U.S. electricity by 2028. These are
national figures and do not establish a Hawai'i-specific demand forecast. [1, 2]
Hawai'i's isolated island electric grids cannot draw emergency electricity from neighboring states. Hawai'i
legislative committees specifically raised concerns about grid stability, new infrastructure costs, water use, and
ratepayer impacts from large data centers. [3, 4]
3 I Why Hawaii should require project-specific studies
Freshwater and aquifers: Require the proposed facility's source of water, permitted withdrawals, daily peak
demand in U.S. gallons, drought-period demand, effects on neighboring users, wastewater disposal, and an
independently reviewed water budget. A dry-cooled design may use much less on-site water but can involve
other energy or cost tradeoffs.
Electricity and household bills: Identify firm and peak megawatt demand, new generation/transmission
requirements, who pays for upgrades, outage/curtailment arrangements, backup generators, fuel, and
emissions.
Land, culture, and communities: Review site-specific archaeological resources, iwi kupuna, customary
practices, groundwater-dependent ecosystems, noise, lighting, traffic, air emissions, and the cumulative
impacts of multiple facilities. These are potential impact pathways requiring evidence, not findings of harm at
any unnamed project.
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4 I Hawaii legislative record supports precaution and disclosure
In 2026, Hawai'i Senate Resolution 90, S.D. 1, requested a working group to study large data centers and
explicitly included independent water-resource impact assessments before permits, conservation plans,
third-party-verified annual reporting of water use, electricity use and greenhouse gases, and safeguards for the
grid and ratepayers. The resolution requests study and recommendations; it does not itself impose a statewide
permit ban. [3]
House Concurrent Resolution 206, H.D. 1, and related committee reports also addressed large data-center
demand, including a 5-megawatt study threshold in the House committee record. [4]
5 I Formal requests from Protect Ke'opuka Ohana
1. No approval or utility commitment without publicly available, independently reviewed site-specific water and
energy impact assessments.
2. Disclose average and maximum water consumption in U.S. gallons per day and year, by source, including
cooling method and drought contingencies.
3. Prove that residential customers will not unfairly subsidize grid upgrades; publish cost-allocation, reliability,
and emergency-curtailment plans.
4. Conduct cultural and environmental review with meaningful early consultation with Native Hawaiian
descendants and practitioners.
5. Require independent annual public reporting, enforceable conservation measures, and clear accountability
for violations.
6. Consider lower-water cooling, reclaimed water where appropriate, energy efficiency, and alternative sites;
document tradeoffs transparently.
6 I Suggested 60-second public testimony
"Aloha. I speak on behalf of Protect Ke'opuka Ohana. Berkeley Lab estimated that data centers across the
United States directly consumed approximately 17.44 billion U.S. gallons of water in 2023. That is a national
total, not a prediction for Hawai'i. But it demonstrates why we must not approve major facilities without first
knowing their local water source, daily demand, power needs, and long-term effects. Our island has finite
resources and an isolated electric grid. Hawai'i's own 2026 legislative record calls for independent water
assessments and transparent reporting. We ask for enforceable protections for water, ratepayers, cultural
resources, and future generations before any commitment is made. Mahalo."
References I Primary sources
[1] Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory(2024), 2024 United States Data Center Energy Usage Report, Section 5 and Figure 5.9
(direct water consumption); DOI 10.71468/P1WC7Q.
https://eta-publications.)bl.gov/sites/default/files/2024-12/Ibn 1-2024-u nited-states-data-center-e nergy-usage-report_).pdf
[2] U.S. Department of Energy(Dec. 2024), DOE Releases New Report Evaluating Increase in Electricity Demand from Data Centers.
https://www.energy.gov/articles/doe-releases-new-report-eva luati ng-i ncrease-electricity-dema nd-data-centers
[3] Hawai'i State Legislature (2026), Senate Resolution 90, S.D. 1,data-center impact working group, water and electricity
safeguards. https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SR90_SD1_.HTM
[4] Hawai'i State Legislature (2026), House Concurrent Resolution 206, H.D. 1, Standing Committee Report 1617-26.
https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/commreports/HCR206_HD1_HSCR1617-26_.HTM
[5] Hawai'i State Energy Office(Apr. 17, 2026),Testimony on HCR 206, HD1.
https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/testimony/HCR206_HD1_TESTIMONY_EIG-AEN_04-17-26_.PDF
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Conversion: 1 U.S. gallon = 3.785411784 liters. Rounded figures shown above. Scope note:A specific proposed facility's location,
design, permits, water supply and capacity must be confirmed separately before making project-specific impact claims.
Jim Mokuohai Kahunanui Medeiros Sr. I President • Michelle Niihau Wright I Secretary
Protect Ke'opuka Ohana I Data Center Evidence Brief I October 2026 3