The Data Center Action Coalition will host a public forum with subject matter experts and local organizers to learn about the implications of data centers, why people are opposing them and what we can do locally to protect our watershed from 2 to 5 p.m. on Aug. 17 at the San Marcos Public Library. Panelists include ERCOT planning engineer Jack Thornton and AI scholar Manar Nasser, among others. The DC/AC is a grassroots organization that emerged in response to the proposed data center developments.
Between San Antonio and Austin, data center inventory amounted to 189.7 MW just a year ago with 463.6 MW under construction, according to the CBRE website. However, AI requires much more electricity and, therefore, more water (both for electricity generation and direct cooling). AI developers are seeking ease of electrical grid connectivity and low-cost energy, robust internet infrastructure, relatively cheap land and minimal regulatory barriers, so the San Antonio- Austin corridor is becoming a hotspot for data center development. A cluster of four data centers is proposed near San Marcos.
Learn more at cbre.com/press-releases/ data-center-construction- quadruples-incentral- texas-as-cloudand- artificial-intelligenceproviders.
