Texas data center debate continues
Hays County Commissioners Court approved a measure to pause data center development in unincorporated areas of the county due to residents' concerns over water usage. State policymakers are also looking into environmental concerns and water demands, with calls for more regulatory guardrails. Meanwhile, Google defends its water-saving practices.
The Hays County Commissioners Court in Texas recently approved a measure to pause data center development in unincorporated areas, responding to significant resident opposition. Local resident Liz Sumter Gajdos voiced concerns about the substantial water usage by data centers, particularly given Hays County's ongoing water crisis. She argued that large hyperscale facilities could consume up to 5 million gallons daily, threatening water availability for housing and other businesses.
At the state level, lawmakers are increasingly scrutinizing the environmental impact and siting of AI-fueled data centers. State Rep. Cody Harris, R-Palestine, criticized unnamed "bad actors" in the industry for fostering public skepticism, noting that only a fraction of data centers complied with requests from the Texas Water Development Board and Public Utility Commission (PUC) to submit water consumption data. Gov. Greg Abbott has also advocated for more "guardrails" to protect the state's water resources, indicating future legislative action on the issue.
Conversely, Ben Townsend from Google highlighted the company's investment in Texas water resources and its use of air-based closed-loop cooling systems in locations with water scarcity, including planned facilities in Texas, which use more energy but save water. Data center developers often prefer rural sites near renewable power sources, which Townsend noted helps avoid grid challenges common in congested city areas, despite calls from residents like Sumter Gajdos to locate facilities in water-rich regions.