El Reno condemns data center as officials say it was never supposed to open
The City of El Reno condemned a data center owned by Athlon, asserting it opened and continued operations illegally despite a 2023 stop-work order issued for safety violations and expiring permits. The facility, used for AI storage and Bitcoin mining, was found responsible for the loss of over 3 million gallons of water, for which the city confirmed residents would not be charged.
The City of El Reno has condemned a data center, asserting that the facility should never have commenced operations. Officials stated that a stop-work order was issued to the site in June 2023 following multiple fire and life safety violations and expiring permits. Despite this order, the property, owned by Athlon, allegedly continued construction and opened illegally.
The data center, which was utilized for AI storage and Bitcoin mining, was later identified as the cause of a leak that led to the loss of more than 3 million gallons of water. Residents expressed surprise and upset upon learning about the facility's role in the water loss and its unauthorized operation. The city indicated that the private fire hydrant was the ultimate cause of the water loss and clarified that El Reno residents would not be financially responsible for the lost water, with the owners being held accountable for repairs and replacement. The City of El Reno is also reviewing its internal processes to prevent similar incidents in the future.