As France plans to install more than 700 data centers by 2033, a bill proposed by Senator David Ros reignites the debate on the fiscal regulation of these energy-intensive infrastructures. Its goal? To establish a progressive tax to hold operators accountable for their environmental impact, particularly regarding water and energy consumption.
A water fee for the most water-hungry data centers
Data centers, essential for storing and processing digital data, consume significant amounts of water to cool their servers and maintain optimal temperatures. In 2022, their consumption reached 482,000 m³ of drinking water, a 20% increase compared to 2021, according to a joint study by Arcep and ADEME.
In light of this pressure on water resources, the bill proposes a progressive fee on extracted water, ranging from €1.53 to €3.90 per cubic meter depending on the level of consumption. This measure aims to encourage operators to adopt more environmentally friendly cooling solutions, such as using outside air or non-conductive liquids for server immersion.
Taxing nuisances and supporting local communities
In addition to the water issue, David Ros also proposes a specific tax on data centers to compensate for their territorial impact. Although representing several tens of billions of euros in investments, these infrastructures create few jobs and lead to nuisances such as land artificialization and land pressure.
Currently, 58% of French data centers are located in Île-de-France, particularly on the Saclay plateau. The senator aims to encourage a better distribution across the territory by promoting installations in regions where the impact would be more balanced and tensions on electrical networks less pronounced.
Valuing waste heat and encouraging innovation
Another lever considered is the recovery of waste heat produced by computer servers. This energy, often wasted, could be reused to heat public infrastructures, such as municipal swimming pools, hospitals, or urban heating networks.
The Olympic aquatic center in Saint-Denis, heated by a nearby data center, illustrates the potential of this approach. To go further, David Ros proposes the creation of a national research and innovation program dedicated to digital infrastructures. The goal? To encourage collaboration between private data centers, universities, and startups to develop more sustainable technologies.
An ecological and economic issue
This bill is part of a global movement to regulate digital giants and reduce their ecological footprint. However, it raises questions about its potential impact on France’s attractiveness to technology companies.
The text, still under discussion, is expected to be examined by the Socialist group next week. It remains to be seen whether the government, despite the recent investments announced at the AI Summit, will choose to support this initiative aimed at reconciling innovation and environmental responsibility.