San Antonio Data Centers Building Gas Plants Spark Environmental Concerns
AI data centers are driving a significant surge in gas-fired power plant construction in the San Antonio area, leading to concerns about increased pollution and strained utility resources. Vantage Data Centers plans to build facilities with numerous diesel backup generators and a gas-fired power plant in western Bexar County, sparking public hearings on environmental impact. CPS Energy reports an "astronomical" 27 GW in power requests from data centers compared to the region's existing 6 GW capacity.
AI data centers are driving a significant increase in gas-fired power plant development across the U.S., with potential pollution levels comparable to Australia's annual emissions. In San Antonio, Texas, these developments are particularly straining the locally owned utility, CPS Energy. Nick Bennett of CPS Energy reported to a Development Services board on June 25, 2026, that data centers have submitted requests for 27 gigawatts of power, an "astronomical" figure compared to the greater San Antonio area's existing 6 gigawatts.
A public hearing by the TCEQ (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality) is scheduled for August 17, 2026, concerning a Vantage Data Center facility planned for the Texas Research Park in western Bexar County. This facility, identified as TX11 and TX12, includes plans for 86 diesel backup generators. Curiously, a 265-megawatt gas-fired power plant, managed by Volta Grid, is also being built at the site but is not mentioned in the current permit. Local residents in the surrounding homes are expected to experience a significant, negative change in air quality due to these developments.