Incoming data center raises concerns in Andrews County, Texas
A town hall in Andrews County, Texas, addressed residents' concerns about Cypher Digital's Stingray Data Center project. Residents raised questions regarding water usage, the strain on the power grid, and noise, despite the developer presenting a new water plan. Many residents still have significant concerns about the imminent facility.
Residents of Andrews County, Texas, voiced significant concerns at a recent town hall regarding the proposed Stingray Data Center project by developer Cypher Digital. Tensions were high as community members, including government officials, pressed representatives on issues such as water usage, potential strain on the electrical grid, and noise pollution.
Cypher Digital unveiled a new water plan for the 100-megawatt project, proposing to use a reverse osmosis system to treat brackish water from a deep aquifer, asserting that this water is not suitable for other uses. Amazon is reportedly slated to be the tenant for this new facility, which is designed to support AI and cloud services.
Despite the developer's explanations, residents also raised alarms about the project's impact on the electrical grid and the local economy. Developers stated they would be the first to power down in an energy crisis and estimated the facility's noise at 38 decibels, comparable to a modern refrigerator. They also highlighted the projected creation of 50 full-time jobs and over $162 million in tax revenue over 20 years.
However, the efforts to reassure the community proved insufficient for many, who remain concerned about the imminent facility. Construction has reportedly just begun clearing dirt at the site, with no clear timeline for when the main building work will commence.