Computing has fueled a data center boom and Texas-sized infrastructure issues
The growth of computing, particularly with AI, has led to a data center boom in Texas, creating significant infrastructure challenges for both electricity and water resources. A guest columnist argues that water usage by data centers needs the same scale of policy consideration as electricity, especially in water-scarce regions like West Texas. Texas has already begun addressing electrical loads with Senate Bill 6, but water infrastructure for data centers remains a critical area for future policy and investment.
The rapid expansion of computing, driven by artificial intelligence, is fueling a data center boom in Texas, presenting considerable infrastructure challenges, particularly concerning electricity and water. Guest columnist, while reminiscing about early computers, highlights how modern data centers, housing thousands of processors and extensive cooling systems, have become critical infrastructure themselves.
The article notes that Texas has already taken steps to address the massive electrical loads posed by these facilities, citing Senate Bill 6, passed in 2025, which established new provisions for very large electrical loads within the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT). However, the columnist emphasizes that water consumption by data centers, which can vary significantly by design and cooling technology, demands similar high-level consideration. While some facilities, like Equinix data centers, utilize closed-loop or water-conserving systems, the state's growing attraction of data centers necessitates a comprehensive discussion about water infrastructure.
The piece underscores the particular challenge in West Texas, a region historically adept at energy and industrial projects but lacking abundant water resources. The columnist argues that Texas, which has historically built infrastructure around economic opportunities like oil and electricity, must apply the same foresight to water, especially given the extraordinary investment and infrastructure demands of the emerging AI economy. The article concludes by suggesting that the economic growth from AI and other industries could potentially help finance new water infrastructure necessary for Texas's future.