Sen. Cortese's Statement on CA Assembly Appropriations Committee Approving His SB 1298 - Improving Data Center Infrastructure

SAN JOSE, CA – Senator Dave Cortese (D-San Jose) issued the following statement regarding his Senate Bill 1298 (SB 1298) being approved by the California Assembly Appropriations Committee moving it off of the Suspense File and onto the Assembly Floor for a vote.

“Expanding our data center infrastructure is essential for the continued growth and competitiveness of our tech industry, supporting economic development throughout California,” said Senator Cortese (D-San Jose). “SB 1298 offers a commonsense solution to meet the increasing demand for data centers while maintaining our commitment to environmental standards, ensuring that Silicon Valley and the Bay Area remain at the forefront of global innovation.”

SB 1298 is an economic infrastructure bill designed to meet the rapid demand of California’s growing technology-based industries and keep critical services, such as hospitals, transportation, banking, and public safety, operational at all times. Specifically, it would increase the threshold for data center eligibility under the Small Power Plant Exemption (SPPE) from 100 MW to 150 MW to consolidate facilities to better serve California. This bill strikes the right balance between needed infrastructure upgrades, and environmental review. The bill is sponsored by the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, the leading business association representing Silicon Valley’s innovation economy and ecosystem.

"We applaud Senator Cortese for his continued leadership in advancing crucial legislation to meet our region’s pent-up demand for data centers,” said Silicon Valley Leadership Group CEO, Ahmad Thomas. “SB 1298 would ensure Silicon Valley and the Bay Area remain the global epicenter of innovation, unleashing a fresh wave of high-ROI investments and generating thousands of jobs for communities across the Golden State."

Senator Dave Cortese represents Senate District 15, which encompasses San Jose and much of Santa Clara County in the heart of Silicon Valley. Visit Senator Cortese’s website: https://sd15.senate.ca.gov

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