French Senate Approves Bill to Regulate Local Data Center Installations

The French Senate approved a bill by Senator David Ros to regulate data center installations, aiming to address local concerns. The legislation encourages local officials to incorporate strategic orientations for data centers in urban planning documents, focusing on energy transition and resource sustainability. It also allows large data centers to qualify as major national interest projects to expedite deployment. However, a proposed water tax for cooling was rejected.

Published Mar 28, 2026

The French Senate has passed a bill by Senator David Ros to regulate data center installations amid local concerns. The legislation encourages local officials to include strategic orientations for data centers in intercommunal urban planning documents, focusing on energy transition and resource management.

AI-curated by Theia

It also permits large data centers to be classified as major national interest projects, facilitating faster deployment. Despite these advancements, a proposal for an additional tax on water usage for cooling was not adopted. A typical data center reportedly consumes up to 110 million gallons of water annually.