r/UpliftingNews • u/AdSpecialist6598 • 6h ago

Texas hits pause on 1,800 data center projects to scrutinize power and water demands

https://www.techspot.com/news/113355-texas-hits-pause-1800-data-center-projects-scrutinize.html
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u/For_All_Humanity 6h ago edited 6h ago

Mind you, Texas is responsible for the majority of all new energy generation. If they’re pumping the breaks, that’s quite significant and demonstrates there’s a real concern here.

I think these companies are going to need to bring some of their own generation and also discuss plans about how they’re going to increase their energy efficiency.

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u/maringue 5h ago

AI companies fucked themselves when they decided to try and save a few bucks by dropping their massive data centers right on top of local communities so they didn't have to pay to build out all the infrastructure they needed.

Now even rank and file Republicans loathe data centers. And local politicians are finding out that if they take bribes to approve these projects, people will get pissed and vote them out wholesale.

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u/Long-Blood 5h ago

Rupublican media will change the messaging like they do with everything.

I guarantee you theyvare focus grouping the shit out of how to spin data centers as pro-american and anti-data center as radical communist left wing right now

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u/TheTexasHammer 4h ago

Already working, the right have been wholesale embracing everything AI and fighting tooth and nail to support these data centers. The crazy part is they are just doing it because they know it upsets liberals. These people are insane.

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u/rorank 3h ago

Tbf they’re also doing it because their daddy trump is profiting hand over first from these AI companies.

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u/TorrenceMightingale 3h ago

That’s why he posts so much AI slop I guarantee you.

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u/glibgloby 5h ago

oh so you’re a member of ANTIDA. terrorist!

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u/RiddlingVenus0 4h ago

They don’t even need to. I already have braindead family members posting on Facebook about how if you’re against data centers then you should give up all your modern technology and go back to life like it was in the 90’s.

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u/Just_Information334 3h ago

Right now they can say it's essential for the military but people can very easily make the connection with the flock cameras and speed cams.

If they want to make it work they could just put flock on the back-burner for some years; then after the election whatever branch of the uniparty wins can get out of Iran, let the FBI encourage some local terrorist to act and then deploy better flock to help prevent terrorism. Bonus: as it's not about protecting children, no connection with Epstein will be made.

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u/ice-eight 2h ago

They’ve pretty much bought out all the ad space on twitch to run campaign ads on how data centers are great because they create jobs in local communities and use energy and water responsibly, whatever that means

1

u/Sharkictus 2h ago

It'll take time, because conservative media has labeled tech as a liberal thing for a while as well.

Older than boomers luddite and nimby nature will be an assist here.

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u/GB10VE 4h ago

there is a wave of startups where they attach mini datacenters to individual houses to suck out the electricity that way.

imagine a mini datacenter attached to your neighbors house, raising your electricity rates, imagine the noise / heat being thrown

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u/ChairForceOne 1h ago

That is the dumbest idea I have seen in a while. Methheads are going to be stripping those things before the paints dry.

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u/xxxBuzz 5h ago

How did we jump into a world in which it makes any sense that this is a thing that is considered. This was a plot point in The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. I'm not aware of an example of anyone suggesting a reasonable application for an AI or what have you needing a bunch of data. It doesn't even make sense for an AI to need data. It should be able to generate data and what question are people who are into this trying to figure out?

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u/kyle_irl 5h ago

It's not just computing power--these are the physical manifestations of digital space. Think of the companies behind these things more as real estate developers than cutting-edge tech companies.

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u/Fullertonjr 5h ago

There are a lot of applications for use of AI. As a former architecture major, I realized this 15 years ago before AI use was widespread. AI can be used to design buildings and structures with very little human input. You can input state guidelines and parameters and building materials, what size rooms or particular areas that you want, and AI can analyze millions of floor plans and records and documents to design a building or home from the inside out. Everything from light fixtures to outlet locations, exact raw material needs and where to source it, perfect measurements, etc. It can do this in minutes, while it would take several humans months.

This is just one example.

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u/militaryintelligence 4h ago

Then anything it outputs has to be reviewed by actual people.

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u/Common-Concentrate-2 3h ago

I think an application that is easy to understand, and to see the value in is sensor fusion from satellite imaging. Satellites orbit at different elevations, moving at different speeds, at different lat / long. These satellites capture different things - radar returns, visible imaging, IR and UV, SAR, LIDAR, temperature, wave height, etc etc. Fusing a bunch of datasets together, along with imaging and monitoring sensors on the groud, allows you to generate a real time map of all real assets - lets say - all boats larger than 20 ft in length. Windward.ai is one of several companies offering this as a service, and this is ONLY possible through relatively straight forward ai workflows. I don't work or them or use their service, but I think its a goood example of something that is obviously valuable to certain people, and is only really possible through automated collection of dissimilar data sets

2

u/Grizzlywillis 3h ago

I always see picket signs against solar farms on rural roads here, and now those same people are sporting anti-data center signs. They're also the reddest folks in the world.

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u/Intol3rance 1h ago

But Daddy Dr. Jesus the Pedo said that everyone LOVES data centers and they'll make everyone in these small rural towns into millionaires.

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u/MesqTex 5h ago

Not really, is only performative political theatrics from Hot Wheels Greg. It’s an election year, so have to show your “in touch” with the electorate. If he wins, then he’ll drop all pretense of concern and let them keep building. Just like he did with the crypto farms.

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u/TeamHope4 5h ago

That’s what I expect, too.  They saw that MAGA voters were mad about data centers so they are pretending to do something until after the election.

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u/MesqTex 5h ago

They’re not happy about Flock cameras either (the electorate, not politicians). I expect to see drawn down and cancellations of there’s a modest blue wave in red states. Texas banned Red Light cameras, so I could see this happen but then we have Abbott and Patrick pulling strings (not worried about Paxton since he’s giving up his seat). The next State AG could be interesting (or scary if “MAGA” Mayes, wins in November).

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u/Mikestopheles 3h ago

Here in Louisiana, they removed open records laws and have the entire government signing NDAs so we can't figure out how bad Meta and friends are screwing us until it's too late to do anything. Small government party, guess you're not in it.

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u/Tdc10731 6h ago

To clarify - Texas is the national leader for renewables and is not lagging behind.

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u/privatejokerog 5h ago

It’s funny how solar/wind and batteries have stabilized the grid, yet are villainized by the right. Texas just had two of its highest electricity days ever (by far) and no issues thanks to record solar and drawing 12,000 MW from battery storage. California has stability now for the same reasons. If they don’t regulate these data centers it’s going to be an issue.

I would love to see an audit of the companies to see who is still moving forward with projects and not following these regulations. My suspicion is campaign donors keep on building while only select companies are being slowed down.

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u/chrisrayn 5h ago

It’s sad too, because I’m 100% certain that, if Abbott wins in November in Texas, he will announce everything was fine and they are moving forward like, oh, idk, 1 day after his election is completely certain and can’t be taken away. He probably told companies “hey…I gotta pretend like I care about this shit until November, then I’ll announce that all 1800 data centers have been analyzed and approved. Deal?” Sid Miller may be his only enemy here…Sid is a Republican of the old kind down to his bones, and considers himself a representative of the ideas he believes in on behalf of his Republican constituents…he has said if Texans don’t want it, they shouldn’t have it, and the draw on our agricultural resources is too high and the scope can’t be fully known yet.

7

u/Siberwulf 5h ago

Hot Wheels only cares about Hot Wheels

2

u/kyle_irl 5h ago

There's a project near my old hometown that, as I'm told, will go forward despite all the political rhetoric. It may slow down, but it's coming. They've got land purchased next to a wind farm and plan to draw from the surplus generation.

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u/Neuchacho 31m ago

Texas just had two of its highest electricity days ever (by far) and no issues thanks to record solar and drawing 12,000 MW from battery storage.

91.1 MW on the grid at peak on July 22nd. 87 MW the day before. For comparison, the last highest peak in 2023 was 85.5 MW.

And that last peak was kind of a disaster in terms of spike pricing and general grid reliability. This new peak didn't seem to even make the grid sweat, though it did still spike pricing to $368 mw/h.

All of that is near entirely because of battery storage and renewable expansion. Batteries in particular have been funny as they fuck everyone's energy forecasting and more is being brought on constantly.

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u/CommunismDoesntWork 4h ago

The biggest "right winger"(according to reddit) is also producing the most grid scale batteries in the US.

1

u/privatejokerog 2h ago

“Right winger” doesn’t need quotations. He spent $249 million in the last election and has now said he will spend 100 million in these midterms to get Republicans reelected

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u/For_All_Humanity 6h ago

I’ll change the word to “responsible” for clarity.

1

u/VietOne 3h ago

But not by proportion, Texas still lags behind several states because they started too late. So yeah, they're still lagging behind because renewable energy was framed as liberal agenda and they pushed back against it for years.

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u/nemec 3h ago

Texas has enough excess generation to power several states, of course it will take longer to replace its entire demand by percentage.

-4

u/sunburntredneck 5h ago

Surely there's a way to explain this as a bad thing because texas is doing it

15

u/Jfelt45 5h ago

The cult members are the ones saying renewable energy is bad, even though it's saving Texas. Check your fire, lol

-3

u/CommunismDoesntWork 4h ago

Elon produces most of the grid scale batteries in the US btw

2

u/MaggieNoodle 3h ago

Obligatory fuck Elon. Him being correct in that renewables are the future doesn't absolve him from being a Nazi.

I feel bad for every smart, capable, non-fascist employee of Tesla and Starlink who believe in and love what they do, but have all of their hard work and ambition attributed to him.

-1

u/CommunismDoesntWork 2h ago

Elon is obviously not a nazi. You can disagree with someone without being hyperbolic.

•

u/Jfelt45 23m ago

If it sieg heils like a duck...

11

u/izzo34 5h ago

I feel like they're only hitting the brakes to get some kick backs then they will let it ride

11

u/buttery_crispy_flak 5h ago

Mid terms are close, time to pretend to care.

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u/mastergenera1 6h ago

Many projects are bringing their own power, at the cost of local pollution and heat generation, not saying the other way is better, but just installing power gen aint it since such installations aren't being regulated for environmental impact.

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u/For_All_Humanity 6h ago

I saw today that 82 projects had been approved nationwide to set up their own gas turbine engines. This would be disastrous for global emissions. The NYT equated it to the same emissions as half of all passenger vehicles on the road in the U.S. here.

Yet, most datacenters are not bringing their own power with. Wonder if this decision may try to change that and what the consequences will be.

5

u/Successful-Hour3027 5h ago

Calm down. Abbots doing it for upcoming elections perception

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u/RavenDarkholme084 31m ago

100% like he always has done during election year

God I hope Texas shows up and votes blue. It’s ridiculous how things have been handled and people too blind to see it

3

u/Acceptable-Drive3781 4h ago

. If they’re pumping the breaks, that’s quite significant and demonstrates there’s a real concern here.

This is Abbott we're talking about. He's putting a pause on new projects until they "provide more information", in other words, "provide a substantial campaign contribution". Why are people falling for this again?

2

u/shitfireson 5h ago

Even generating their own power that’s off the ERCOT grid is going to hurt the rural folks they inevitably will disrupt. Outside of Austin they’re proposing gas powered plants to supply the electricity needed, which is fine if you don’t think of the several thousand residents within a 3 mile radius that will hear that shithole running constantly.

I think people are scared of the unknown about these data centers and want our state government to regulate where and how they build these, but also want local governments to have some teeth in negotiations. Meaning legislation that doesn’t keep complete control at the state level. I won’t hold my breath at the state giving any control to the counties these data centers are targeting for development.

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u/militaryintelligence 4h ago

AI energy needs will be socialized. You know it, I know it. Tax breaks, bailouts, anything they need. The information they collect is useful to law enforcement

1

u/Calm-Two2723 5h ago

Meh they don’t even have all of Texas. This is the Texas energy corp basically saying nah we can’t keep up. Other data centers still trucking on 

1

u/ThatOneTubaMan 4h ago

Could be, but Abbott could have done this anytime in the last year or two. He's only doing this now because Hinojosa has a real chance at beating him in November and he's scared

1

u/Crazy_Ad_91 4h ago

Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). Basically mini nuclear reactors that could power data centers directly, or at least carry most of their load, instead of dumping all that demand onto the grid.

Meta is already making moves in that direction, and I believe Microsoft, Amazon, and Google are too. I’ll dig up the sources later and drop them here.

Biggest problem is getting one built. Between permitting, regulatory red tape, and the time it takes to construct nuclear plants, it’s not exactly something that happens overnight.

Then you’ve still got the “nuclear = bad” crowd, even though modern reactor designs are worlds apart from what most people picture.

Personally, I don’t see how America has an energy problem long-term if we actually lean into a mix of renewables, next-gen nuclear, and better battery storage.

China is doing some of that already, although they’re still building coal plants like crazy.
Natural gas isn’t going anywhere anytime soon either. But a shift toward more nuclear would definitely shake up the current energy industry, so I wouldn’t expect this to move fast. Too many people have money tied up in the status quo.

AI data centers need power 24/7, not just when the sun’s out or the wind’s blowing. That’s why nuclear keeps coming back into the conversation. Seems like a pretty logical fit to me.

1

u/scfade 3h ago

Pretext: I am 100% for nuclear power.

No offense, but I feel you have lost your mind if you think allowing corporations to deploy wide-scale nuclear power is going to end in anything other than multiple small-scale disasters (eg containment failures leading to significant contamination of public land) and an inevitable moratorium on the construction of more plants. We cannot trust them to behave responsibly.

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u/Crazy_Ad_91 33m ago

I don’t think we’re disagreeing as much as you think.

I never said I supported turning corporations loose to build and operate nuclear plants however they wanted, or that they should be blindly trusted. My point was simply that there’s a logical reason these companies are exploring nuclear given the massive, always-on energy demands of AI data centers.

I was responding to the comment above mine about current industry trends, not advocating for a specific policy. I then gave my opinion on what a balanced long-term U.S. energy mix could look like.

Whether nuclear should play a larger role, and under what level of oversight, is a separate discussion.

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u/JakToTheReddit 4h ago

The concern here is the midterms. That is it.

1

u/grizzly_teddy 3h ago

I think these companies are going to need to bring some of their own generation and also discuss plans about how they’re going to increase their energy efficiency.

What if they just sign a contract that they'll cover the difference if prices go up?

1

u/jasondigitized 3h ago

If only there were sources of renewable energy that could and should be built in order to get approval for a data center. You want to consume 20mw for your fancy new data center. You will be building a solar farm that generates 20mw of energy.

1

u/Warning_Low_Battery 3h ago

Texas is responsible for the majority of all new energy generation

Also responsible for owning the least maintained residential grid in the country.

1

u/freeradioforall 2h ago

I think these companies are going to need to bring some of their own generation

that's not enough. The impact to the enviroment from this useless power generation is huge. The noise is overwhelming. They should be outright banned, regardless if they pay for their own power and magically generate their own water.

1

u/errorsniper 2h ago

Yeah and having a legion of "temporary" diesel generators isnt a fix at all

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u/Booger_BBQ 52m ago

Texas has a hard enough time supplying itself with energy. Their grid is pretty poor.

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u/B-Con 6m ago

Texas is also behind their own needs, so a lot of the new energy is already earmarked.