{"id":667784,"date":"2026-03-19T22:42:15","date_gmt":"2026-03-19T22:42:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/667784\/"},"modified":"2026-03-19T22:42:15","modified_gmt":"2026-03-19T22:42:15","slug":"san-antonio-looks-to-create-tailor-made-model-for-data-center-growth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/667784\/","title":{"rendered":"San Antonio looks to create tailor-made model for data center growth"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOn March 4<\/a>, the San Antonio City Council received a briefing from both CPS Energy and the San Antonio Water System, or SAWS, on the potential growth and impact of data centers on the city.<\/p>\n

During the meeting, Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones and council members expressed optimism that San Antonio will become a leader in responsible data center growth.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have the opportunity right now to lead in Texas to create a playbook where the rest of South Texas … could look at that and be like, Look at what San Antonio is doing, what the team in San Antonio has done,’\u201d District 3 council member Phyllis Viagran said.<\/p>\n

Current situation<\/strong><\/p>\n

During the briefing, council members emphasized they are not anti-data center, but they are anti-unplanned, unbuffered growth. Multiple members said any future data center growth must be filtered through the need to create a comprehensive model tailored to local water resources\u2014such as the Edwards Aquifer and SAWS\u2019 recycled water system\u2014 grid structure, land use and neighborhood concerns.<\/p>\n

Jones said that city officials would prioritize open communication with residents about any data center development.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve seen in other cities that communities around data centers can face higher rates of respiratory illness, which is why we\u2019re insisting on strong public\u2011health protections, clear controls and real transparency around how these facilities are operated\u2014not blind trust,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n

District 10 council member Marc Whyte said bringing data centers to the city is essential for securing high-paying jobs and increasing the tax base without burdening residents.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need to figure out how we’re going to get more of these data centers here, and we’ve got to do it responsibly … because the jobs and revenue they can bring to our city just cannot be ignored,\u201d Whyte said.<\/p>\n

District 9 council member Misty Spears said development should always be balanced with concerns over impacts to the city\u2019s utilities.<\/p>\n

\u201cMany residents are concerned about the impact on water supply and our power grid, and the cost of each of those utilities. So I share those concerns,\u201d Spears said.<\/p>\n

The framework<\/strong><\/p>\n

According to the presentation, new data centers are rapidly appearing throughout Texas, especially AI-focused centers. However, these centers can create strain on existing utilities.<\/p>\n

CPS Energy officials listed several needs related to transmission and distribution for new data centers.<\/p>\n

CPS Energy needs include:<\/strong><\/p>\n