San Angelo residents weigh Skybox data center proposal at city meeting
San Angelo residents met with city leaders and Skybox Data Centers to discuss a proposed data center. The city is proposing a conditional use process with guidelines on noise, water usage, and environmental impacts before moving forward. Community members expressed mixed opinions, with some raising concerns about local resources and others supporting the project.
San Angelo residents gathered for a public meeting with city officials and representatives from Skybox Data Centers to discuss a proposed data center development in the city. The community voiced a mix of support and skepticism regarding the project's potential effects on local resources.
Skybox Data Centers acknowledged past irresponsible data center developments by other companies and addressed common questions, particularly about water usage, explaining their system as a closed-loop cooling process similar to a car's radiator. City leaders announced a proposal for a conditional use process that would establish mandatory guidelines for the facility, covering aspects like noise, water consumption, and other environmental considerations. An engineer clarified that equipment generating vibration would be designed not to impact nearby homes.
While some community members supported the project and appreciated the city's efforts to gather input, others expressed significant concerns. Calls were made to prioritize local businesses for construction, and worries were raised about the city's water resources and the need for extensive 765 KV power lines across Texas to support hyperscale data centers. Some attendees also felt the meeting was an attempt to sway public opinion, given their belief that initial steps to approve zoning had already been taken.
City officials noted that zoning rules are not the primary method for regulating water and wastewater, which are managed through separate processes. For more details on the meeting discussions, residents were directed to ktxs.com.