New survey: Local leaders sound the alarm on data center boom
A new survey conducted by the North Central Texas Council of Governments reveals that local leaders are highly concerned about the rapid data center boom. They cite insufficient water supply and strains on the power grid as major issues, with 96% worried about water usage. Leaders are also questioning the long-term economic benefits and advocating for more regulations, such as requirements for renewable energy and water reuse.
The North Central Texas Council of Governments recently released a new survey highlighting significant concerns among local leaders regarding the rapid expansion of data center development in the region. The survey indicates that 78% of leaders believe their communities lack the necessary infrastructure to handle the influx of data centers without substantial upgrades.
A primary concern is the strain on the power grid, cited by 81% of respondents. However, the most critical issue identified is water availability, with a striking 96% of local leaders expressing worry that data centers, which consume between 300,000 to 5 million gallons of water daily for cooling, will severely deplete local water supplies. While developers emphasize the substantial tax revenue generated by these facilities, local leaders are skeptical that the economic advantages will offset the long-term environmental and infrastructure costs. They are advocating for the implementation of more stringent regulations, or "guardrails," including mandates for renewable energy sources and advanced water reuse systems to ensure sustainable development.