BEXAR COUNTY, Texas – Data centers store important information including data from hospitals, financial data and data for AI, among many other uses.
There are hundreds of data centers built and proposed across Texas, according the Texas Tribune’s data center map. Thirty-one of which are currently up and running.
Several counties around Bexar County could have data centers soon, as well.
Despite Atascosa County not having any active proposals for data centers, the county had a public meeting Tuesday to explain what role the county plays with developers building data centers in the area.
Westover Hills, located on the West Side, has several data centers run by multiple companies.
Vantage Data Centers has a building in Westover Hills. In May, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality held a public hearing about the data center that hoped to acquire an operating permit because of its needs to add diesel generators.
“The purpose of a federal operating permit is to improve overall compliance with the rules governing air pollution control by clearly listing all applicable requirements,” TCEQ’s notice of hearing stated.
District 6 council member Ric Galvan said his office has received complaints about data centers, particularly because his district has several within its boundaries.
“They’re looking at doing the ‘hyperscaler,’” Galvan said. “Less data collection, more focused on how AIs can be used here for different companies. ... They’re looking for 32 on-site diesel generators, which would impact our air quality significantly.”
“Hyperscaler” are data centers significantly larger than traditional on-premises facilities, according to IBM.
KSAT reached out to Vantage for an interview on July 2 but have yet to hear back.
“District 6 has the highest concentration of data centers in Bexar County,” Galvan said. “A lot of residents have reached out to our office about it, as well. Ultimately, it comes down to the state, who oversees air quality here in our community through TCEQ.”
Hundreds of people have shared their concerns and support for data centers on social media.
One person shared with KSAT via a social media comment, “The one in Westover Hills is down the street from me. It’s huge, but I don’t hear or see it. Nothing odd. It’s fine.”
Several people simply said they disagree with the centers with one person saying “they’re loud as hell.”
“I know we have several data centers over here,” one KSAT viewer named Meg said. “I disagree with them. I don’t hear anything different, but worry heavily on their energy and water consumption.”
Galvan said all of the data centers in San Antonio use less than 0.3% of the city’s water.
“For CPS Energy, they try to make sure that we’re not having too many all spread out because that requires more transmission connecting to them,” Galvan said. “So, if they’re co-located, the energy infrastructure gets to stay in that one central location for the most part.”
Galvan also shared the positive financial impact of data centers.
“There is a significant taxable value here in our city where a significant portion of our CPS Energy revenues and our property tax revenues come from data centers here in the community,” Galvan said.
Vantage will still need a Federal Operating Permit from TCEQ to operate dozens of diesel generators due to the potential for significant air quality impacts.
“We already have, in Bexar County, a significant impact of air quality issues here,” Galvan said. “So, they have to go to the state-level TCEQ.”
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