'It Sounds Crazy!' Beating Back Data Centers in San Marcos, Texas (Podcast Clip)—Event Sunday

The podcast clip from Deceleration discusses the successful efforts of the Data Center Action Coalition in San Marcos, Texas, to defeat an AI data center project on two separate occasions. The core arguments against the data center centered on its significant water consumption, particularly in a drought-prone state, and the potential for toxic chemicals to be released into local waterways. The speakers recounted how developers and their hired lawyers, described as "charmers" and "poets" like John Mayberry, initially presented their case. The opposition group countered these presentations by consistently speaking "basic truth" to the public and engaging with local representatives. They created pamphlets to communicate their concerns, highlighting that the developers' claims were untrue. By developing relationships with local politicians and persistently sharing factual information, the activists eventually swayed decision-makers, leading to the project's defeat.