A look at data centers' behind-the-meter approach to get power
A proposed 664-acre data center campus in Taylor, Texas, has drawn community concern because it may include an onsite natural gas power plant. Residents and environmental advocates fear traffic, emissions and long-term health impacts, while the developer says behind-the-meter generation is needed to avoid lengthy grid-interconnection delays.
The City of Taylor approved a development agreement to annex the 664-acre Taylor Technology Campus, a proposed data center development north of Austin. Nearby residents, including Loma Cox, have raised concerns about construction traffic, the campus’s proximity to homes and potential emissions from an accompanying natural gas power plant.
The project reflects a broader Texas trend in which data center developers generate electricity onsite to avoid limited grid capacity and lengthy interconnection queues. Environment Texas executive director Luke Metzger warned that proposed gas plants serving data centers could significantly increase emissions, while BaRupOn CEO Balaji Tammabattula defended the approach for the company’s Liberty Advanced Manufacturing and Power Data Center Campus near Houston, saying emissions-reduction technology could mitigate pollution over time.