San Angelo City Council approves data center water regulations
The San Angelo City Council unanimously approved new water-use regulations for data centers, despite concerns raised by several residents. Residents called for a moratorium on data center development, citing issues such as water consumption, power use, foreign ownership, housing costs, and potential long-term environmental and community impacts. Council member Mary Coffey acknowledged residents' concerns, indicating that further discussion on data center development is expected.
The San Angelo City Council held a session where they unanimously approved new water-use regulations for data centers. The decision followed a public comment period during which several local residents voiced their concerns regarding potential data center development within city limits.
Residents raised a variety of issues, including the significant water and power consumption of data centers, the possibility of foreign ownership, the proximity of such facilities to Goodfellow Air Force Base, rising housing costs, and the impact of construction on local traffic and businesses. Some speakers advocated for a moratorium on future data center actions, urging the city to proceed cautiously and consider worst-case scenarios and long-term consequences, arguing that the decision should move at a "glacial pace."
Others opposed the ordinance itself, warning that approving water-use regulations could encourage data center development, which they characterized as a "big financial hoax" that would not benefit the community. District 6 council member Mary Coffey addressed the public, assuring residents that their concerns were being heard at both local and state levels and that any development would take more time than initially anticipated. She emphasized that the council members, as residents themselves, also have personal stakes in the community's future.
Discussions regarding future data center development in San Angelo are expected to continue in the coming months.