People report strong natural gas odor near far West Side data center
Residents in the Texas Research Park neighborhood of Bexar County, Texas, are complaining about a strong natural gas odor near a Vantage Data Center. The company attributed the smell to a "setup error" involving an odorant, but residents desire more transparency. While an HOA representative reported a decrease in complaints, one resident still wishes for better communication.
Residents in the Texas Research Park neighborhood on the far West Side of Bexar County, Texas, are expressing concerns about a strong natural gas odor emanating from a nearby Vantage Data Center facility. Sarah Foresight, a local resident, described a persistent smell akin to rotting eggs, which she claims began without prior notice from the company. The odor has reportedly been strong enough to cause violent nausea among residents, with concerns raised about its proximity to community areas like playgrounds and pools.
Stuart Pennington, the neighborhood's HOA representative, investigated the complaints and was informed by Vantage Data Center that a "setup error" led to the excessive injection of the chemical that gives natural gas its distinctive odor. Pennington indicated that he has not heard further complaints since this explanation.
However, a vice president with Vantage Data Center, while acknowledging the facility uses natural gas infrastructure, stated they were "not aware of any incident at the site that has posed a risk to the surrounding community." Foresight expressed a desire for greater transparency and more forthcoming communication from the company regarding its operations.