Planning and zoning commission approves second data center project in Wichita Falls
The Wichita Falls planning and zoning commission has approved a second data center project, valued at $100 million. The city has implemented specific limitations on the project, including restrictions on light pollution, electricity use, and water consumption by requiring an air-cooled system.
The Wichita Falls planning and zoning commission has approved a second data center project, marking a significant development for the city. The proposed facility, an estimated $100 million investment, will repurpose a former grocery store and call center into a 37,000-square-foot data center designed to consume 12 megawatts of power.
City leaders anticipate the project will contribute to expanding the local tax base and creating new job opportunities on the city's north side. Director of Development Services Fabian Medellin confirmed that the city has implemented specific limitations on the project. These restrictions address light pollution, electricity usage, and critically, water consumption, by mandating an air-cooled system and explicitly prohibiting more water-intensive evaporative cooling systems. The developer has committed to adhering to these conditions.