Data center industry looking to gain trust with Texans
Facing community pushback across Texas, the national Data Center Coalition launched its "Texas Connects" initiative to build public trust. This nonprofit campaign aims to educate residents through ads, addressing common concerns about data centers' water and energy usage. However, some Texans remain skeptical, calling for more transparency in data center approvals.
The data center industry is facing significant community pushback across Texas, prompting the national Data Center Coalition to launch its "Texas Connects" initiative in April. This nonprofit aims to educate the public about data centers through an advertising campaign, releasing its first ad in April and three others since then.
The campaign directly responds to widespread resident backlash throughout the state, where over 300 data centers currently operate and more than 200 are planned, according to the Texas Tribune. The ads specifically address key concerns raised by opponents, such as the industry's water and energy consumption.
Josh Levi, president and CEO of the Data Center Coalition, stated that "Through Texas Connects, the industry seeks to better explain the role of data centers to the public, including how they operate, why they are important to our daily lives and the 21st-century economy, as well as factual information about the industry’s responsible usage of water and its commitment to paying for the energy it uses." He attributed public concerns to misinformation. However, Fort Worth resident Kevin Thompson expressed skepticism, calling for greater transparency in how data centers are approved and regulated, asserting that the information provided in the ads is inaccurate.