KSAT Q&A: Mayor Jones addresses data center regulations, city budget deficit
San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones discusses the city council's ongoing deliberations regarding data center regulations. The discussions include proposals for a moratorium, zoning changes, and specific requirements for data centers concerning water usage, air quality monitoring, and noise pollution. The city council expects an update and potential action in October.
San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones addressed the city's approach to data center regulations in a KSAT Q&A session. She acknowledged the importance of data centers for national security missions in the community but also highlighted resident concerns about quality of life impacts, particularly regarding noise and proximity.
The Mayor noted that some city council colleagues support a moratorium on data center development as a time-limited solution. However, she expressed a preference for exploring zoning changes and implementing specific requirements. These proposed "asks" include prohibiting data centers from using potable water, requiring investments in recycled water infrastructure, treating cooling effluent, conducting air quality monitoring, and addressing noise pollution. She emphasized the need to learn from other communities' experiences.
Mayor Jones also raised concerns about the long-term plan for data center infrastructure and transparency, citing the issue of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) that utilities enter into with data centers, which makes it difficult for the city to know who is operating and who is coming into the community. She revealed her own refusal to sign an NDA to tour a data center. The city council is expected to receive an update on possible rules and regulations in October, at which point action may be taken.