THE PEOPLE VS. DATA CENTERS
Texas State Representative Drew Darby has sent a letter to leadership at Beacon Data Centers, the company behind the massive Dove Creek data center development, informing them of his request for a public hearing for the approval of it’s pending air quality permit with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, according to a news release from his office.
The representative writes, “I am writing to express both personal and constituent concerns regarding Beacon Data Centers’…[campus] in Tom Green County.
“Over the last several months, my office and I have received numerous calls from residents of the Dove Creek area opposing the project and raising concerns about Beacon’s lack of communication and transparency.
“This past month, I spent many hours in my district office holding one-on-one meetings with concerned constituents to listen to and evaluate their concerns. Moreover, hundreds of constituents have both called and written to voice their worries. I have come to share many of the concerns presented by my constituents, and I believe further engagement on your part is warranted to address them swiftly and publicly.
“Direct intervention in a proposed private development is not something I undertake lightly, nor often. However, the volume and consistency of concerns raised by residents regarding the Campus, alarms not similarly raised about other projects in House District 72, compel me to engage directly on this matter.”
Darby referenced the new guidelines issued by Gov. Greg Abbott regarding data centers, requiring them to pay for their own electric infrastructure instead of shifting costs onto Texas families and small
businesses, making them reuse their own water, reduce the cost of electricity for Texans, avoid disrupting residential neighborhoods, in order to preserve Texas’ quality of life, among others.
Some of the questions Rep. Darby is asking include:
Will the facility rely on on-site generation (e.g., reciprocating engines) rather than grid interconnection? If so, what are the projected particulate emissions, air quality impacts, and mitigation measures for nearby residents, and what is your planfor installing any associated natural gas pipelines?
How much water will the facility require for cooling and operations, where will that water come from, and what additional pipeline or utility infrastructure will need to be built to support it?
Beacon has mentioned an on-site well, brackish water with desalination, and mesquite removal to “free up” water resources. Which of these will actually be used, in what proportions, and what is the anticipated impact on the local aquifer and neighboring agricultural wells?
If the project is only partially built, delayed indefinitely, or Beacon exits the market, what obligations exist to remediate the site and remove generation equipment?
Darby’s letter also asks questions regarding noise and traffic studies, economic impact, and other topics.
“I formally requested that TCEQ hold a public meeting in Tom Green County on Beacon’s pending air quality permit applications,” Darby concluded, “In a public setting, the local community will have easy access to the proceedings, and those who wish to be heard will have the opportunity to do so.”
A Couple Questions Have Already Been Answered
According to what information has been provided, a couple of the representatives questions have been answered. Namely, the site plans on using natural-gas powered generators to produce electricity for the facility.
Beacon, appearing as Westline Holdings, reports that it’s particulate emissions would be nominal, but many worry that prevailing winds would carry the CO2 and NOX emissions north into San Angelo, with many residents requesting studies of that matter.
Other questions, like those about water and cooling methods, remain unanswered. Beacon VP Joseph Shovlin said at a public meeting in April that “clearly” air-cooled, not water cooled, servers and processors must be used, but made no mention of this statement when they appeared before Tom Green County Commissioner’s Court in June.
Shovlin also promised to provide studies on almost all the questions asked by the commissioners within many weeks. That too has fallen by the wayside, it seems.
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