San Angelo officials, developers respond to concerns after packed data center meeting

San Angelo officials and developers are responding to community concerns following a recent city council meeting that drew hundreds of residents to discuss a proposed data center project on the northeast side of the city. The meeting, held on a Wednesday night, primarily focused on zoning, water use, and infrastructure implications of the project, which is being proposed by Skybox Datacenters in partnership with Emergent. San Angelo Mayor Tom Thompson stated that the goal of the meeting was to provide information and address numerous questions submitted by residents beforehand. Despite some concerns, Mayor Thompson believes many were addressed during the presentation, emphasizing the potential tax revenue from the project to support city services like fire, police, and infrastructure improvements. Approximately 30 residents voiced their concerns during the public comment period, highlighting issues such as water usage, noise pollution, housing impacts, and long-term community strain, drawing comparisons to larger data center developments in other communities like Abilene. Chris Sumter, CEO of Emergent, addressed these concerns, stating that some were based on misinformation about modern data center operations, particularly regarding water usage, noise reduction technologies, and the project's scale, which he noted is significantly smaller than those in Abilene. Sumter also highlighted the substantial tax revenue the project could generate without requesting city incentives. The project remains under review, with its timeline contingent on securing necessary approvals, including power allocation from ERCOT (Electric Reliability Council of Texas). ERCOT requires proof of a long-term commitment before allocating power, and while Skybox and Emergent have signed a letter of intent to purchase the site, additional steps are required before a final decision can be made by city leaders.