San Antonio council members call for halt on new AI data center developments amid grid concerns
San Antonio City Councilman Rick Gilvann is proposing a 90 to 180-day moratorium on new data center developments in San Antonio. The proposal aims to give the city time to create new zoning rules and require developers to disclose energy and water usage, and environmental impact. The councilman also calls on local utilities and the state governor to address data center regulations.
San Antonio City Councilman Rick Gilvann is advocating for a 90 to 180-day moratorium on new data center developments within the city. The proposal is driven by concerns over the rapidly growing industry's impact on energy and water resources, particularly in District Six, which has the highest concentration of data centers.
Councilman Gilvann seeks to establish new zoning rules that would grant the city council final approval over future data center projects. He also demands that developers disclose their projected energy and water consumption and environmental impact from the outset. Additionally, he calls upon CPS Energy and SAWS to mandate that all new data centers utilize clean energy and recycled water for their operations.
The councilman has also extended his appeal to Governor Abbott and state legislators, urging them to convene a special session in Austin to address data center matters across Texas. The proposed moratorium requires support from Gilvann's council colleagues to take effect.