Resident, Chamber of Commerce comment on San Angelo's proposed data center

San Angelo, Texas, recently hosted a special City Council meeting at the McNee Convention Center to discuss a proposed data center on the city's north side. Reporter Ethan Purcell highlighted that the majority of San Angelo residents are staunchly against locating the data center within city limits, expressing significant concerns. The meeting covered several key areas, beginning with the city planning office, where Aaron Voy provided updates on infrastructure. Mayor Tom Thompson then engaged in a discussion with representatives from Skybox, the data center developer. Topics included the rationale for choosing San Angelo, potential water consumption and discharge, noise, construction traffic impact, influx of workers, job creation, grid reliability, power demand, and the risk of brownouts. Skybox representatives clarified that they build the centers and then lease them to large tech companies. The public comment section revealed strong disapproval, with residents expressing worries about increased traffic and housing shortages. Conversely, a Chamber of Commerce executive viewed the project as a "seismic event" that could bring substantial benefits, including tax revenues and job creation, to the community over the next two decades. Mayor Thompson and a Skybox representative were interviewed after the meeting, with further details expected on FOX West Texas.