Data Centers Could Worsen or Fix TX Water Woes: Texas Brief

Texas Weighs Water Strain Against Growth

Surging data center development could worsen the state’s already strained water supply — or help finance long-delayed efforts to expand it, Alexandra Samuels reports.

At a policy summit in Austin, State Sen. Charles Perry said some developers underestimated how much water their facilities need, especially for cooling systems and power generation.

But he and other panelists said those same projects could help address supply constraints — if developers are willing to invest in infrastructure. Some large companies are already exploring ways to fund water projects, including desalination and brackish groundwater development, ...