Oklahoma residents seek answers on data center costs, cooling and accountability
Oklahoma residents interviewed by KTUL raised concerns about electricity costs, water use, noise, traffic, construction and other impacts from nearby AI data centers. A proposed facility near Yukon would be about 1,500 feet from one resident’s home, while an Oklahoma legislative interim study is examining data center issues and accountability.
Residents in Green Country told KTUL they support technological progress but want communities to receive benefits and clear, enforceable commitments from data center developers. Barbara Coleman said she is concerned residents could be charged for increased electricity use, while Yukon resident Charlie Scott objected to placing a proposed facility about 1,500 feet from his home because of potential traffic, construction, noise and light pollution. A station poll found roughly 90% of respondents opposed data centers.
At the Port of Catoosa, Henry Cullen of Kelvin, a company that manufactures data center cooling equipment, described how cooling systems vary based on location, temperature, facility size and computing demand. He said modern facilities can use less water than a golf course through closed-loop systems and claimed many large U.S. data centers built in recent years generate their own power rather than relying on the grid. KTUL also contacted Oklahoma state legislators and county leaders as part of an interim state study on data centers, with additional responses expected in a later broadcast.