Data Center Watch: Lessons from a San Marcos Coalition's Defeat of an AI Data Center

Deceleration.news, in partnership with the Esperanza Peace & Justice Center in San Antonio, hosted "Todos Agua," a week-long event focused on water, urbanization, and environmental justice. During Day Two, a panel discussed data centers, featuring Saunders Drukker and Kay from the San Marcos Data Center Action Coalition. They shared their experience regarding the recent successful defeat of a proposed AI data center in San Marcos, Texas. The event aimed to provide insights for other communities and activists, particularly as DeeDee Belmares, a San Antonio-based climate organizer with Public Citizen and Climate Justice San Antonio, is convening a statewide convention on the topic. The discussions underscored the environmental challenges posed by such developments, especially in the context of Texas's ongoing drought and rising temperatures. The "Todos Agua" series also included various cultural and reflective sessions dedicated to the theme of water.