Shackelford County Judge weighs benefits, concerns of proposed data center
Shackelford County leaders in Texas are evaluating a proposal for a second data center, drawing lessons from an existing facility already under construction. Residents have expressed concerns about increased traffic, water and electricity usage, environmental impacts, and land use, while Judge John Viertel highlights potential benefits like grid resiliency and water reservoir development.
Shackelford County, Texas, is actively considering a proposal for a new data center, building on experiences from the Frontier Campus, an existing facility currently under construction. County Judge John Viertel noted that the ongoing construction of the Frontier Campus has been disruptive, particularly for residents in the western part of the county near Hamby, due to increased traffic and worker movement.
As officials weigh the merits of a second data center, planned for a more rural area about 10 miles north of the Frontier Campus, public concerns are surfacing. Residents have voiced apprehensions regarding water usage, electrical demand, infrastructure strain, environmental impacts, and the potential effect on nearby landowners, including the conversion of land typically used for ranching and hunting. Judge Viertel acknowledged the fast-paced nature of the industry and the public's desire to ensure development doesn't proceed "too far, too fast," also touching on worries about potential corruption.
Despite these concerns, Judge Viertel highlighted potential long-term benefits of self-sufficient data centers, such as enhanced grid resiliency through power generation and the possibility of advancing a long-planned water reservoir project. Both the existing and proposed facilities are expected to generate their own electricity, potentially contributing excess energy to the Texas electric grid. The proposed project also includes a desalination process for underground saltwater, though its feasibility in Shackelford County's specific geology remains uncertain and requires further testing. No negotiations have begun for the second facility, which is still in its early stages.