Requires every data center to operate with complete energy independence, meaning 100% of its energy demand—including backup power, cooling, and ancillary loads—must be generated on site.

Prohibits a data center from being physically interconnected with, receiving power from, or participating in load-swap, demand-response, or standby agreements with state-funded utilities or any public power grid.

Requires backup generators to be part of the on-site energy system and limits generator fuel deliveries to no more than 10% of annual energy consumption.

Prohibits data centers from receiving direct or indirect state or local taxpayer-funded incentives, grants, tax abatements, subsidies, utility-rate reductions, or infrastructure improvements primarily benefiting the facility, including benefits provided through related entities.

Requires data centers to fully fund all permitting, infrastructure, and operational costs.

Requires a closed-loop water or liquid cooling system that produces zero net water withdrawal and zero wastewater discharge.

Prohibits data centers from extracting groundwater, using municipal water for cooling, or using evaporative or open-loop cooling systems.

Requires annual certification of the closed-loop cooling system, including third-party verification and documentation of water losses, chemical treatment processes, and fluid replacement volumes.

Imposes strict liability on data-center operators for environmental damage and public-health impacts arising directly or indirectly from operations, without requiring proof of negligence.

Prevents operators from transferring, indemnifying, shielding, or assigning that environmental and public-health liability to contractors, shell entities, or special-purpose subsidiaries.

Requires environmental bonding or liability insurance of at least $50 million, or a higher amount established by regulation based on facility size.

Requires at least one full-time, on-site W-2 employee for every 1,000 square feet of facility floor space, with each employee working at least 35 hours per week.

Excludes remote workers, contract workers, temporary workers, staffing-agency employees, and workers employed by another entity from satisfying the required staffing ratio.

Requires qualifying on-site employees to be present during all operational hours, including emergency operations.

Requires operators to submit an annual report by January 1 to the House Speaker, Senate President, and Governor covering energy production and consumption, water-use metrics and closed-loop verification, environmental monitoring, and employment compliance.

Subjects owners who knowingly and willfully violate the chapter to an administrative fine of $1,000 for each violation.

Allows the Department of Consumer Affairs, for repeated violations, to suspend a data facility's operating permit or shut down the facility.

The energy-independence requirement allows a limited physical or contractual connection to outside systems when required for emergency protection systems.

The facility may use fuel deliveries for generators, provided fuel-based generation does not exceed 10 percent of the facility’s annual energy consumption.

Upon the Governor’s approval, state, county, municipal, and other political-subdivision entities may not accept data-center applications or permits, or act on applications or permits that have not received final approval, until the General Assembly establishes a comprehensive oversight and approval process for new data centers. The measure defines a data center as a facility, campus, or interconnected facilities primarily used to store, retrieve, or transmit data, with peak demand of at least five megawatts.

Until January 1, 2028, state and local governmental entities may not grant final approval for applications, permits, incentives, or other requests related to a new data center. This includes rezoning, special exceptions or use permits, building permits, site plans, development plans, economic incentives, and fee-in-lieu-of-taxes arrangements. The resolution defines a data center to include a facility with equipment for managing at least one megawatt of electrical-power and cooling capacity. The approval moratorium and covered requests

A data center with projected peak demand of at least 50 MW, or another threshold established by Public Service Commission rule, must obtain a commission-approved contract with its electrical utility before receiving service.

The required utility contract must identify all new facilities and upgrades needed to serve the large load customer.

The large load customer must either participate in the utility’s emergency demand-response program or pay an increased amount for firm service reflecting additional reliability costs.

The utility contract must establish a minimum electric-service threshold for at least 20 years, sufficient for the utility to recover the costs of new facilities and related upgrades.

If the customer terminates service or reduces anticipated demand before the utility recovers its service-related costs, the customer must pay the remaining unrecovered amount.

The Public Service Commission must require the large load customer to provide financial security in an amount determined by the commission.

The commission may refuse to approve a contract, interconnection agreement, or rate unless the project provides a public net benefit to South Carolina, including consideration of employment, infrastructure resilience, and community-burden mitigation.

The commission may impose additional, nondiscriminatory conditions through tiered review, including enhanced financial security, modified service thresholds or contract terms, additional reporting or audits, demand-response participation, or limits on cost-recovery mechanisms.

Each large load customer must submit an annual report to the commission by July 1 covering peak MW, annual MWh, demand-response and curtailment events, on-site generation runtime, and, for data centers, gallons of water withdrawn for cooling; incentive recipients must also report employees, job categories, and wages.

State incentives may not be offered to a potential large load customer unless it provides proof of compliance with the large-load requirements and mitigation of community impacts as determined by the Department of Environmental Services.

Employment, wage, or training commitments supporting an incentive must be written and measurable for later review.

A potential large load customer may not receive an incentive until it has complied with applicable water-resource and large-load obligations, although a prospective incentive may be conditioned on future compliance.

If a large load customer fails to meet future conditions tied to an incentive, it must reimburse the department or pay the incentive’s monetary value; the department must audit compliance as needed and at least biennially.

A potential large load customer may not receive permits or local-government incentives until after a public hearing on the project, with at least 30 days’ notice published in a newspaper and on the local government’s website and mailed to property owners within one mile.

Before the local public hearing, the public must receive information about the project’s anticipated electric load, backup generation plan, water usage, traffic impacts, and construction plans.

A local governing authority must certify that the project is compatible with its comprehensive planning and zoning requirements before issuing permits or incentives.

Before receiving permits, a potential large load customer must submit water-resource plans to the Department of Environmental Services covering monthly consumption, conservation measures, treatment chemicals, and a drought-use contingency plan; the information must be public and the department must hold at least one public hearing on the plans.

A large load customer must submit an annual water-usage report to the Department of Environmental Services by January 1, and the department must verify compliance with the report at least once every three years.

When the county is in drought status, the Department of Environmental Services must verify that the large load customer is following its water-use contingency plan.

Allows state agencies and other entities to offer incentives to a potential large load customer after it proves compliance with the large-load requirements and mitigation of community impacts. Incentives tied to future employment, wages, or training commitments may be offered if those commitments are written and measurable, and prospective incentives may be conditioned on future compliance.

Requires the utility contract to identify all new facilities and upgrades needed to serve the large load customer, providing a defined framework for the generation, transmission, distribution, substation, interconnection, and network improvements needed for service.

Permits a large load customer to obtain firm electric service by paying an increased amount reflecting additional reliability costs instead of participating in emergency demand-response curtailments.

Provides for a minimum electric-service threshold lasting at least twenty years, allowing the utility to recover the costs of new facilities and upgrades needed to serve the large load customer and supporting a long-term service commitment.

A data center must obtain an office siting permit before beginning operations, in addition to other state and local approvals. The application requires a pre-application consultation, and review may take 60, 90, or 120 days depending on the facility tier; extensions are allowed by agreement or in extraordinary circumstances. A missed deadline results in approval subject to standard conditions. A data center may not begin operations

Tier 2 and Tier 3 applications require progressively more extensive review. Tier 2 applications require a site-specific environmental review statement and assessment of major infrastructure; Tier 3 applications require a detailed infrastructure assessment and a comprehensive environmental review, including regional water, air quality, and traffic impacts. Tier 3 data center applications shall require

Data centers must meet water-efficiency limits measured by WUE: no more than 2.0 liters/kWh for Tier 1 and Tier 2, and 1.5 liters/kWh for Tier 3. They must also report annual water use, WUE, and significant resource-use changes. Variances may be available in specified circumstances, and certain non-cooling uses are exempt. WUE shall not exceed 2.0 liters/kWh

The office assesses whether proposed sites have adequate water supply, wastewater treatment, fiber connectivity, and road access. It may identify deficiencies that the operator must cure within a reasonable time, with the operator bearing reasonable cure costs. Site-specific buffers may also be required; presumptively reasonable distances include one-half mile or less from wildlife refuges and heritage preserves, and one-quarter mile or less from critical habitat, subject to mitigation and site factors. An infrastructure adequacy assessment

Data centers must comply with local zoning, land-use rules, building codes, and other local approvals. Local governments may impose additional reasonable requirements for local concerns, although they may not impose requirements more restrictive than the act’s standards for operational efficiency or state-level infrastructure adequacy. data centers must comply with local zoning

Electric-service rates and agreements are subject to Public Service Commission review. Agreements must allocate the fair costs of utility service—including attributable infrastructure, fixed and capacity costs, and reliability costs—to data center operators. The commission must require financial assurances for contractual obligations; for investment-grade operators, these may reach 100% of unrecovered infrastructure costs. contracts for electric service must ensure

Facilities must meet operational requirements addressing noise, vibration, and lighting. Noise limits at residential property boundaries are 60 dBA Leq during the day and 50 dBA at night, subject to case-specific adjustments; monitoring is required before opening, within six months after opening, and every three years thereafter. a maximum of 60 dBA Leq

Tier 2 and Tier 3 facilities must file decommissioning plans, and the office may require them to provide financial assurance based on site-specific factors. When operations cease, operators generally must remove above-ground structures if the site is not reused, restore the site, properly dispose of or recycle materials, and clean up contamination caused by operations. Tier 1 facilities are exempt from this section. Tier 2 and Tier 3 data centers shall file

The act does not replace other applicable environmental requirements: data centers remain subject to federal requirements and applicable air-quality, stormwater, wetlands, and other environmental laws and regulations. Data centers remain subject to

The act applies prospectively to applications submitted after its effective date, but an existing data center becomes subject to its provisions if it increases electrical load capacity by more than 50% over the capacity used on that date or increases floor area by more than 50%. increase electrical load capacity by more than fifty percent

Brownfield and remediation-site projects would qualify for state income tax credits: 25% of eligible remediation costs, capped at $5 million per facility, plus a 2% investment credit capped at $10 million. Certification, completed approved remediation, compliance with the act, and an application within 12 months of starting commercial operations are required; credits are subject to a $50 million annual statewide cap and may be carried forward for 10 years. The tax-credit amounts and limits

The state office would proactively identify suitable locations and maintain a site inventory. Existing industrial parks with demonstrated utility capacity, previously developed industrial or commercial sites, and identified brownfields would be presumptively suitable. Presumptively suitable locations

The office would provide pre-application consultations, serve as a single point of contact, coordinate state-agency reviews, and offer technical assistance and guidance to operators. A single point of contact

Siting applications would have tiered decision deadlines: 60 days for Tier 1, 90 days for Tier 2, and 120 days for Tier 3, measured from receipt of a completed application. Deadlines may be extended by agreement or in extraordinary circumstances; otherwise, a missed deadline means approval subject to standard conditions. A permit lasts for the facility’s operations if it has an electric-service contract. Permitting deadlines and approval if a decision is late

Tier 1 applicants would receive a lighter review: no detailed infrastructure assessment when located in qualifying industrial parks or areas with demonstrated adequacy, no environmental review statement, and water-conservation compliance by certifying an intent to use industry best practices. Tier 1 application requirements

Tier 2 infrastructure review would focus on major systems rather than every component, and the office could waive specific environmental-review elements when site conditions show minimal impact. The focused Tier 2 infrastructure review

If an infrastructure assessment identifies deficiencies, the office must give written notice with possible solutions and a reasonable opportunity to cure them; it may not deny the application before that opportunity. The site must be found adequate if deficiencies are cured within a reasonable time and at reasonable cost to the operator. An opportunity to cure infrastructure deficiencies

The Public Service Commission would approve utility rate agreements using flexible structures, including upfront contributions, hybrid rates, minimum contract obligations, and graduated rates, with the aim of assigning directly attributable service costs to data centers rather than nonparticipating customers. Acceptable rate structures

The commission would establish expedited review for qualifying rate agreements that show no cross-subsidization, provide adequate financial assurances, and meet operational-efficiency standards; approval is due within 60 days absent material concerns. Utilities would also be directed to develop standard electric-service contracts for data centers. Expedited rate-agreement approval

For electric-service and infrastructure agreements, financial assurance for investment-grade operators could not exceed 100% of unrecovered infrastructure costs; requirements may be lower for strong-credit operators, decrease as costs are recovered, and be shared among the same operator’s facilities. Financial-assurance limits

Data centers could use self-generation or private power-purchase agreements. Standby charges must reflect actual backup-service costs and avoid penalizing self-generation, and interconnection review would be expedited under established standards. Self-generation and expedited interconnection

Local governments would retain zoning and land-use authority, but could not impose requirements more restrictive than the act’s standards for operational efficiency or state-level infrastructure adequacy. The state office’s permit decision could not be delayed by local zoning or land-use processes. Limits on additional local requirements

Compliance with the act would satisfy state-level environmental review specifically addressing data center operations, although federal requirements and other listed environmental permits and laws would still apply. State-level review provision

Confidential operator information submitted to the office, including facility designs, security plans, detailed operational data, and qualifying trade-secret financial information, would be protected from public disclosure under the state Freedom of Information Act. Protected confidential information

Tier 1 facilities would be exempt from the act’s decommissioning-plan and decommissioning-financial-assurance requirements. For Tier 2 and Tier 3 facilities, financial assurance would be required only at the office’s discretion based on site-specific factors, could be phased in over five years, and would account for equipment and materials’ salvage value. Tier 1 decommissioning exemption

Enforcement would generally allow a reasonable cure period and corrective-action plan before penalties, except for willful misconduct; first-time violations of non-material requirements would receive a warning. Penalties are capped by tier, and non-willful violations may receive a stay during an appeal if the operator posts reasonable security. For two years after the act takes effect, the department would prioritize technical assistance and guidance over enforcement. Cure periods and first-time warnings

The act would generally apply prospectively to applications submitted after its effective date. Existing data centers would become subject to its provisions only if they increased electrical-load capacity or floor area by more than 50% over the specified baseline. Prospective application and existing-facility thresholds

Commercial data centers with peak demand of 50 megawatts or greater must accept electric-service terms designed to recover their service-related costs from the data centers, including contracts lasting at least 15 years and minimum billing requirements.

A commercial data center must pay unrecovered distribution, transmission, and generation costs if it terminates its electric-service contract, and must provide collateral that the electric service provider holds in a separate account.

Electric-service contracts for commercial data centers require approval by the Public Service Commission, which must determine that qualifying increased fuel, generation, and transmission costs are recovered solely from the data center.

Commercial data centers must report monthly water use to the Department of Environmental Services, separately identifying surface water, groundwater, and water supplied by public or private utilities and identifying each source.

A proposed commercial data center must report anticipated monthly and annual water use and its water source within 30 days after entering a water-supply agreement and at least 90 days before construction begins; the Department of Environmental Services may impose a penalty of up to $10,000 per day for noncompliance.

Commercial data centers must file a decommissioning plan with the Department of Environmental Services describing facility-removal procedures, estimated costs, and the decommissioning timeline.

Proposed commercial data centers must provide financial assurance for estimated decommissioning costs, accounting for salvage value. Acceptable instruments include letters of credit, surety bonds, escrow accounts, or other cash-equivalent instruments; the assurance may be phased in over the first five years of operation.

Eligibility for the computer-equipment sales-tax exemption for a technology-intensive facility is limited to taxpayers meeting the existing investment, job, compensation, and equipment requirements that entered into a fee-in-lieu agreement on or before May 30, 2026.

The sales-tax exemption for electricity used by a technology-intensive facility is limited to facilities that qualified for the related computer-equipment exemption on or before May 30, 2026.

To claim the specified sales-tax exemption for data-center computers, computer equipment, and related hardware and software, the taxpayer must notify the Departments of Revenue and Commerce in writing of its intent to claim the exemption on or before May 26, 2026.

The specified data-center computer-equipment sales-tax exemption applies only to data centers certified by the Department of Commerce before May 30, 2030; continued application for an additional ten-year period requires certification by May 29, 2030.

Provides a sales-tax exemption for computer equipment used by a technology-intensive facility if the taxpayer invests at least $300 million, creates at least 100 qualifying full-time jobs, has at least 60% of the investment in computer equipment, and enters into a fee-in-lieu agreement by May 30, 2026. fee-in-lieu agreement on or before May 30, 2026

Preserves a sales-tax exemption for electricity and related equipment and fuel used by a qualifying technology-intensive facility, but only if the facility qualified for the computer-equipment exemption by May 30, 2026. qualifying for the sales tax exemption

Allows a taxpayer to claim the datacenter exemption for original or replacement computers, computer equipment, hardware, and software if it notifies the Departments of Revenue and Commerce in writing by May 26, 2026; investment and job-creation periods begin upon that notification. notify the Department of Revenue and Department of Commerce

Extends eligibility for the datacenter computer-equipment exemption to facilities certified by the Department of Commerce before May 30, 2030, with the exemption continuing for an additional ten-year period for taxpayers certified by May 29, 2030. certified by the Department of Commerce

Creates a permitting deadline for energy infrastructure projects: an agency must issue a decision within six months, and failure to take final action within that period results in deemed approval. application shall be deemed approved

Establishes utility-service contracts for commercial data centers of at least 50 megawatts, including minimum billing and long-term terms, allowing electric providers to prepare for and provide dedicated service while requiring the center to bear substantially all associated costs. has a peak demand of fifty megawatts or greater

Protects commercial data centers that were already customers of an in-state electric service provider on May 15, 2026, from the new data-center electric-service requirements. shall not apply to a commercial data center that is a customer

A data center with a connected electrical load of at least one megawatt must obtain a Public Service Commission certificate before operating; the certificate is in addition to other state and local approvals. Certificate required before operations

Before applying, an operator must give notice at least 15 calendar days in advance and request a pre-application consultation. at least 15 calendar days

Certificate applications must include specified project, environmental, efficiency, infrastructure, electric-service, decommissioning, and noise, vibration, and lighting information. Applicants must serve copies on specified agencies and municipalities and publish public notice in newspapers of general circulation. application must contain

Certification requires a public hearing; expert testimony must be prefiled, and the proceeding allows agency, municipal, and qualifying public participation subject to intervention deadlines. parties to a certification proceeding

Review requirements and deadlines vary by tier: Tier 1 applications have a hearing within 45 days and a decision within 75 days; Tier 2 within 75 and 105 days; and Tier 3 within 120 and 150 days. Tier 2 requires a site-specific environmental review statement, while Tier 3 requires a detailed infrastructure assessment and comprehensive environmental review. Applications from Tier 1 data centers

The Commission may grant a certificate only after finding, among other things, that the environmental impact and effects on the electric grid and existing utility ratepayers are justified, and that the project has reasonable assurance of conforming to applicable state and local laws. It may decline to apply a local rule it finds unreasonably restrictive under the bill’s stated criteria. may only grant a certificate

Data centers must meet operational-efficiency standards established by the Office of Regulatory Staff and water-efficiency standards established by the Department of Environmental Services. Water-use effectiveness limits are 2.0 liters/kWh for Tiers 1 and 2 and 1.5 liters/kWh for Tier 3; variances may be granted for specified conditions, and certain non-cooling uses are exempt. shall not exceed 2.0 liters/kWh

Operators must file annual reports on water consumption, water-use effectiveness, and significant operational changes; Tier 1 centers receive a simplified form. submit an annual report

Applicants must assess infrastructure adequacy before applying, including water, wastewater, fiber connectivity, and road access. Identified deficiencies must be cured within a reasonable time, with reasonable cure costs borne by the operator, for the site to be found adequate. Tier 1 centers in existing industrial parks or areas with demonstrated infrastructure adequacy do not need a detailed assessment. Applicants shall conduct an infrastructure adequacy assessment

The Department of Environmental Services must set site-specific buffers, including presumptively reasonable buffers of up to one-half mile from national wildlife refuges and heritage preserves and up to one-quarter mile from critical habitat, subject to mitigation and site-specific factors. buffer requirements

The Commission regulates utility rates, service agreements, and infrastructure investments serving data centers. Operators must bear fair, directly attributable service and infrastructure costs, including appropriate fixed and capacity costs, and rate agreements require Commission approval. bear reasonable infrastructure costs

The Commission must require reasonable financial assurances for operators’ utility-service contractual obligations; for investment-grade operators, the amount may not exceed 100 percent of unrecovered infrastructure costs. Tier 2 and Tier 3 centers may also be required, at the Commission’s discretion, to provide decommissioning financial assurance. financial assurances

Tier 2 and Tier 3 centers must file decommissioning plans. When operations cease, operators must remove above-ground structures if the site is not repurposed for similar use, restore the site for future development, properly dispose of or recycle materials, and clean up operational contamination. Tier 1 centers are exempt from the plan and assurance requirements in this section. Tier 2 and Tier 3 data centers shall file

Data centers must comply with local zoning, land-use, building-code, and related requirements. Local governments retain those authorities and may impose reasonable local requirements, but cannot impose requirements more restrictive than the Act’s operational-efficiency standards or state-level infrastructure adequacy determinations. must comply with local zoning and land use regulations

At residential property boundaries, noise limits are 60 dBA Leq from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and 50 dBA Leq from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., subject to case-by-case adjustments. Operators must monitor noise before operation, within six months after starting, and every three years thereafter, and must take reasonable measures to minimize noise, vibration, and light impacts. maximum of 60 dBA Leq

The Act does not replace other environmental laws. Data centers remain subject to federal environmental requirements, air-quality permitting, stormwater and wetlands requirements, and other applicable environmental laws. remain subject to

The Commission may require corrective-action plans, inspections and audits, certificate suspension or revocation after a hearing for serious violations, and civil penalties. Maximum penalties are $10,000 per day for Tier 1, $25,000 for Tier 2, and $50,000 for Tier 3; first-time violations of non-material requirements receive a written warning, and penalties may be waived if violations are cured within the applicable cure period. civil penalties imposed

The bill sets tier-based review schedules: Tier 1 applications get a hearing within 45 days and a decision within 75 days; Tier 2, 75 and 105 days; and Tier 3, 120 and 150 days, subject to possible extensions. Tier-based review deadlines

Tier 1 projects in existing industrial parks or areas with demonstrated infrastructure adequacy need no detailed infrastructure assessment, no environmental review statement, and may meet water-conservation review by certifying an intent to use industry best practices. Tier 1 application requirements

Tier 2 reviews can focus on major infrastructure systems rather than every component, and the Commission may waive environmental-review elements where site conditions show minimal impact. Tier 2 review provisions

Existing industrial parks with demonstrated utility capacity, previously developed industrial or commercial sites, and designated brownfields are presumptively suitable for data center development. Presumptively suitable locations

If an infrastructure assessment identifies deficiencies, the operator must receive notice of possible solutions and a reasonable opportunity to fix them; the Commission must find infrastructure adequate if deficiencies are cured in a reasonable time and at reasonable cost borne by the operator. Opportunity to cure infrastructure deficiencies

The certification process includes a pre-application consultation, with the Office of Regulatory Staff directed to give clear guidance on the scope of the environmental assessment. Pre-application consultation guidance

The environmental impact assessment is to disregard minor impacts and speculative concerns, and compliance with the Act satisfies state-level environmental review specifically addressing data center operations. Other listed environmental requirements, including federal rules, air permitting, stormwater, and wetlands protections, still apply. Environmental review scope

A certificate amendment requires a hearing like an initial application only if the change significantly increases environmental impact or substantially changes the facility’s location. Amendment hearing conditions

A certificate lasts for the data center’s operating life if it has an electric-service contract in place. Certificate duration

The Commission may approve flexible electric-rate and infrastructure-cost arrangements, including upfront contributions, hybrid rates, minimum contract obligations, and graduated rates; contracts must allocate fair service costs to data centers and protect non-participating customers from directly attributable costs. Rate and cost-recovery options

Rate agreements that show no cross-subsidization, include adequate financial assurances, and meet operational-efficiency standards must be handled under expedited procedures and approved within 60 days absent material concerns. Expedited rate-agreement approval

Data centers with a power usage effectiveness (PUE) below 1.3 may receive preferential treatment in rate-agreement approval. PUE-based preferential treatment

The Commission must set reasonable interconnection requirements and standby charges for self-generation that reflect actual backup-service costs, avoid penalizing self-generation, and expedite interconnection review using established industry standards. Self-generation and interconnection

For investment-grade operators, financial assurances for electric-service and infrastructure obligations may not exceed 100% of unrecovered infrastructure costs; requirements may be reduced for strong credit, reduced as costs are recovered, and shared across multiple facilities owned by the same entity. Limits and reductions on financial assurance

Tier 2 and Tier 3 data centers may receive water-standard variances if climate, superior alternative performance, or site-specific factors justify them. Water-efficiency variances

Local governments retain zoning and land-use authority, but may not impose requirements more restrictive than the Act’s operational-efficiency standards or state infrastructure-adequacy determinations; Commission certification decisions may not be delayed by local zoning or land-use processes. Local authority and certification timing

When deciding whether to grant a certificate, the Commission may decline to apply a local law or regulation it finds unreasonably restrictive in light of existing technology, cost, or economics, and must explain that finding in its order. Exception for unreasonably restrictive local rules

Tier 1 data centers are exempt from decommissioning-plan and decommissioning-assurance requirements; for Tier 2 and Tier 3, assurance is discretionary, may be phased in over five years, and accounts for equipment and materials’ salvage value. Decommissioning requirements and limits

For two years after the Act takes effect, the Office of Regulatory Staff and Department of Environmental Services must prioritize technical assistance and guidance over enforcement to help the industry transition. Two-year transition period

Enforcement generally provides written notice, a corrective-action plan, and a reasonable opportunity to cure before penalties; first-time violations of non-material requirements receive a written warning rather than a penalty or certificate sanction. Notice, cure, and first-time warning provisions

Tier 1 data centers receive a simplified form for required annual reports on water use, water-use effectiveness, and significant resource-related operational changes. Simplified Tier 1 reporting