Big companies want data centers. Texans want answers
Texans are raising concerns about the rapid growth of data centers, questioning their water and electricity consumption, as well as tax incentives. Governor Greg Abbott has issued a moratorium on approving data centers that want to connect to the state's power grid, while a Westlake commission recommended a new data center despite public concerns.
The Dallas News reports on increasing public concern in Texas regarding the rapid proliferation of data centers, prompting numerous questions from readers. Carol Stephenson of Mesquite raised doubts about a Data Center Coalition ad promising funding for new energy projects to power Texas homes, questioning its veracity after the coalition failed to provide an explanation.
Brad Kizzia of Dallas inquired about Governor Greg Abbott's recent order regarding data centers. The governor ordered an audit of all data centers seeking to connect to the state's power grid and announced a moratorium on their approval. However, this pause does not halt all projects, as centers like the one in Westlake can still pursue local approvals, though groundbreaking is prohibited until the moratorium is lifted. The article suggests this action reflects state leaders responding to public concerns, and forecasts data center issues will be a significant topic in the upcoming 2017 Legislature.
Further concerns were voiced by Michael Dorbandt of Dallas, who proposed data centers should generate their own power and that their property taxes should be used to lower homeowners' taxes, noting current incentives often reduce their tax burden. Kris Portmann of Mabank questioned the environmental impact, particularly water consumption for cooling, and the proximity of these facilities to residential areas. Ellen Oliver of Dallas emphasized the significant environmental and social challenges posed by data centers' water usage. The article concludes by inviting more public input on local data center developments and any unusual deals related to water use, electricity, or taxes.