Keep data center costs out of residents' pockets
This opinion piece in the Houston Chronicle argues that data centers in Texas should pay all their costs, including higher rates for water and power, without receiving tax breaks. It also delves into the debate around a proposed statewide moratorium on AI data centers, presenting arguments both for and against such a pause, citing environmental concerns and economic development.
An opinion piece published in the Houston Chronicle advocates for data centers in Texas to bear all their costs, including paying higher rates for water and power, without benefiting from tax exemptions. The author, Bruce Ellis, argues against public subsidies for multibillion-dollar conglomerates, referencing an NTT data center campus under construction in Garland, Texas, where a significant number of chillers are required for cooling.
The article further addresses the ongoing debate regarding a potential statewide moratorium on AI data centers in Texas. Clayton Tucker, a Democratic Agriculture Commissioner candidate, is noted for his concerns about preserving productive farmland, a stance questioned by the author due to Tucker's previous advocacy for wind and solar projects on agricultural land. Conversely, Wayne Christian, Railroad Commissioner of Texas, argues against such moratoriums, emphasizing Texas's history of economic growth through innovation rather than development pauses.
Technological advancements are also highlighted, with a mention of two-phase computer cooling potentially reducing data center energy use by up to 40% and eliminating water requirements. The piece concludes by briefly dismissing a separate op-ed on property tax reform as largely irrelevant to the primary discussion of data center economic and environmental impact.