Data centers need to be managed responsibly. Our framework can help.

An opinion piece in the Houston Chronicle, authored by Debra Phillips, president and CEO of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, argues for responsible management of data center growth in Texas. Phillips notes a growing bipartisan consensus between Governor Greg Abbott and U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico on the need to manage data center development responsibly, citing concerns about long-term impacts on local water use, electricity grid, noise, safety, and infrastructure costs.

Phillips highlights the "AI Data Center Energy Performance Framework," developed by her organization in collaboration with the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. This framework is presented as a shared technical reference to assist developers, utilities, engineers, and policymakers in planning, designing, building, and operating data centers. It is designed to be adaptable to varying local conditions, such as those found near Dallas, in the Hill Country, or along the Gulf Coast.

The framework aims to help decision-makers address crucial questions early in the development process, including a facility's ability to reduce or shift energy demand during grid stress, minimize water use for cooling, and mitigate noise and local infrastructure impacts. Phillips urges Texas to consider incorporating such a technical framework into its permitting, siting, and development agreements, allowing the state to capitalize on economic opportunities while safeguarding communities and the electric grid. Richard Cherwitz and David Contreras also contributed opinion pieces to the Chronicle regarding political issues and local protests, respectively, but these are unrelated to the data center discussion.