Proposed Yukon data center cuts planned water usage after pushback
A proposed $1 billion data center near Frisco Road in Yukon has switched from water cooling to air cooling after residents and city officials raised concerns about water use. Developers now expect the facility to use about 5,000 gallons of potable water per day, while opponents are also concerned about its proximity to homes and potential noise pollution.
Yukon officials say a proposed $1 billion data center on more than 180 acres near Frisco Road will use air-cooling technology rather than the originally proposed water-cooled system. City officials said the change reduces expected potable-water demand from an initial estimate of 2.5 million gallons per day to roughly 5,000 gallons per day for uses such as hand-washing and restroom facilities.
City officials, including Decker, said Yukon is evaluating additional water sources, including wells, as the city manages daily demand of roughly 1 million to 2 million gallons. Residents opposing the project said water is not their primary concern; they are more focused on the facility's proximity to homes and potential noise pollution. Opponents have gathered about 340 signatures on a petition seeking public votes on future data center projects, exceeding the 162 signatures needed for verification.