State agency plans Houston-area industrial park with data centers, distribution hub
Alaska's Department of Natural Resources proposed transferring a 30-square-mile parcel north of Houston to AIDEA for an industrial park, which could include data centers. Local officials and residents have raised concerns about the potential environmental impact, water usage, and recreational trail disruption. The Houston City Council is considering a ban on data centers within city limits, with a vote postponed.
The Alaska Department of Natural Resources announced plans to transfer a 30-square-mile parcel of state land just north of Houston, Alaska, to the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA) for a new industrial and energy development district. This proposed park is slated to include data centers, a freight hub, and advanced manufacturing pads, with public comments open until August 19.
However, the prospect of data centers has already sparked significant opposition. Houston City Council member Lisa Johansen has proposed a ban on data centers within city limits, citing public safety hazards, risk of permafrost thaw, and negative impacts on local water supplies and recreational trails. The council postponed a vote on her ordinance until August 13.
While Matanuska-Susitna Borough code does not require special permits for data centers, local officials like Houston Mayor Carter Cole and Mat-Su Borough Manager Mike Brown expressed surprise and concern over the data center component of the plan. Brown noted that an intermodal logistics hub made sense for the area, but the data center inclusion was a point of contention. Mat-Su Assembly member Ron Bernier supports development but doubts a data center is likely.