Data centers that power everyday digital life are facing new scrutiny in Texas, where Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered state environmental regulators to pause permits for data centers until an audit is complete.
As data centers expand across the San Antonio area, the San Antonio Board of Realtors says it is still too early to know whether the facilities are affecting home prices or utility bills in the region.
While concerns about data centers grow across South Texas, including water and energy use, some residents on the far West Side of Bexar County said they are dealing with a different problem: a strong natural gas odor.
With data centers springing up around Texas and becoming a major talking point for residents, most San Antonio city council members appear ready to take action.
San Antonio City Council members are considering a temporary pause on new data center construction as they weigh new rules for the rapidly growing industry and its impact on neighborhoods, power use and water demand.
Several City Council members and concerned residents want to hit pause on the future development of data centers in San Antonio, at least for now.
As data centers rapidly expand across South Texas, KSAT Investigates learned the public cannot find out how much water San Antonio-area data centers are using because of a Texas law that its author says is being interpreted far more broadly than intended.
Data centers remain a flashpoint around San Antonio after residents previously pushed back on projects planned for the far Northwest Side of Bexar County. Now, people in Guadalupe County are raising similar concerns, protesting what they say is a lack of transparency from county leaders as two data center projects move forward near their homes.
Some neighbors say nearby facilities are not noticeable, while others describe them as "loud."
Residents packed the Atascosa County Justice Center on Tuesday to voice concerns about the possibility of data centers coming to the county, even as officials stressed that no projects have been submitted or approved.
The San Marcos City Council voted Tuesday to prohibit data centers in all city zoning districts after months of public discussion about the potential impacts of data center development on the community.
