> The draft for a new permit that would allow data centers across the state to release untreated wastewater and stormwater directly into rivers and streams.

> The new permit would apply to water that circulates through all current or future data centers, regardless of location.

Thermal pollution is pollution.

With our own rack we nearly went down the once-through river route, but the state made it clear the delta had to stay below about 3°F and we had to log DO/temperature/flow constantly before they would even look at the permit. In the end we sealed the cooling loop, run the plate heat exchangers into the office HVAC and a dry cooler, and we only add makeup water for the evaporative losses. That lets us reuse the waste heat and keeps the creek from seeing a hot plume.