Australia's state of Victoria has unveiled new rules for data centers that will require developers to secure their own renewable power supply, according to a government statement on Tuesday.
New data centers will have provide power generation equivalent to their demand while covering connection costs and necessary network upgrades. The government said the measures were intended to ensure data centers become "net generators, not net users."
New facilities will also be required to use recycled or non-drinking water for cooling. Projects unable to meet that requirement immediately will have to offset their drinking-water consumption and pay for necessary infrastructure upgrades.
Victoria's Data Centre Action Plan will prohibit projects in residential zones and near schools and childcare centers. New facilities will also require a 150-meter buffer between data center buildings and homes as well as traffic management plans covering construction and operations.
The government also unveiled a Local Investment Guarantee for new developments, with benefits conditional on local job creation, worker training and building parks.