Jacinto City residents not sold on proposed data center
Jacinto City residents expressed strong opposition to a proposed 50-megawatt data center at a town hall meeting. While city leaders feel powerless to stop the conversion of an old glass plant, they plan to impose strict restrictions via a special use permit covering noise and emissions. The developer, Raiden, promises noise dampening and a closed-loop water system.
Jacinto City residents voiced overwhelming disapproval for a proposed data center at a town hall meeting convened by city leaders. The plan involves converting an old glass manufacturing plant on Fidelity Street into a 50-megawatt data center, a project spearheaded by a company called Raiden.
City Manager Ron Squire stated that while the city recognizes the need for data centers, they question their placement near residential areas. Despite a previous non-binding resolution urging data centers to stay out, city officials acknowledge they are powerless to prevent the project legally. However, they intend to craft a special use permit to impose stringent restrictions on the data center's operations, including limiting noise levels, monitoring emissions, and requiring the company to post a bond.
Jason Green, president of Raiden, attended the town hall and attempted to address residents' concerns. He promised that the facility would be quieter than the current ambient sound levels, utilizing noise-dampening materials. Regarding water usage, Green assured the community that the data center would use a minimal, closed-loop system, recycling 200,000 gallons indefinitely for cooling. Raiden hopes to begin construction in October and have the facility operational by March, despite ongoing community objections.
The discussion also touched upon the broader context of data center growth in Texas, noting the explosion of AI-driven demand and the industry's emergence as an election issue, with Governor Greg Abbott imposing new restrictions and his Democratic challenger campaigning against them. Concerns about noise and water drain from data centers have been echoed by other families across the state.