Data centers in Texas: Google launches water fund, stewardship plan
Google has launched a $10 million Texas Water Impact Fund and a water stewardship plan to support data center development across Texas. This initiative aims to address community concerns about water usage, even as Google plans further expansion and continues operations in various parts of the state. The company's efforts come amid increasing scrutiny from residents and state lawmakers regarding data center water consumption and the need for clearer regulations.
Google has introduced a new multimillion-dollar Texas Water Impact Fund and a comprehensive water stewardship plan to mitigate concerns surrounding data center water usage in Texas. The tech giant, which operates two data centers in Ellis County and has nearly a dozen more under construction or in planning, is preparing to build a new data center complex in the Texas Panhandle, utilizing a co-location strategy near power generation plants. This initiative comes as a recent paper indicated data centers could account for 9% of Texas's water demand by 2040.
Ben Townsend, Google's Global Head of Infrastructure and Sustainability, stated the $10 million grant program is specifically for communities where Google plans to develop, inviting local partners to discuss infrastructure upgrades and watershed investments. Google's current water portfolio in Texas includes investments in nature-based solutions and advanced irrigation technology across over 21,000 acres, partnering with organizations like Texan by Nature, the Texas Longleaf Team, Tarrant Regional Water District, and Indigo Ag for various conservation efforts.
Despite these efforts, Google's environmental responsibility pledges face pushback from rural areas, which often have limited regulations. U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) highlighted national security implications of data center growth and the "AI arms race," advocating for facilities in welcoming communities. He also pointed out the lack of explicit, legally binding energy standards for private sector data centers.
State-level discussions are also active, with the Texas state House State Affairs committee having held hearings on AI and data centers, suggesting potential legislation in January. The Texas House Natural Resources committee is also slated to discuss data centers and water use in a June 23 hearing. Google anticipates these debates, hoping its fund and stewardship plan could serve as models for new statewide regulations.