Concerned residents in Texarkana gathered last week to organize opposition to a proposed 500-acre data center, raising alarms about water consumption, noise levels, and what they described as limited public input in the decision-making process.
One resident described the encroachment of data centers into the area as “the rape of Bowie County” on Thursday night.
This comes after a 500-acre data center project was announced earlier in the year in the Texarkana region, much to the frustration and outrage of local residents.
“If you would have asked me [what the big Texas issue was] three months ago, I would have said ‘Sharia and the Islamification of Texas’,” said conservative activist Dale Huls. “But the data centers have blown up so quick, so fast.”
Texas is reportedly one of the most popular locations in the United States for data center growth. However, concerns have been voiced regarding the centers’ impacts on health, local resources, and the well-being of nearby residents.
“Data centers … affect the quality of life,” said Huls. “My well is over 700 feet deep. If they’re sucking water [out of the area], I’ll have to have somebody come out there and go deeper.”
Christal Prince described visiting the data center facility in Granbury with friends to investigate the noise level.
“We experienced on our phone app decibel ratings 90 to 130,” said Prince. “The strange thing that happened is, all 3 of us, within 10 minutes, started feeling nauseous and lightheaded.”
“It’s like seeing a UFO, you don’t want to seem like the crazy one … finally, one of our friends [who] has a defibrillator said, ‘Guys, I don’t feel good.’ My other friend and I were feeling exactly the same thing.”
Many data centers are known to emit noise levels as high as 96 decibels, while being as close as 50 feet to a residential home.
“We feel betrayed,” said Dan Debenport, owner of the Dixie Diner, and his wife, Brandy, a former educator and administrator. “I mean, I know these people sitting on these boards, but it makes me feel that maybe I don’t know who they are.”
Many residents reported feeling as though decisions were being made behind closed doors, without full disclosure to residents. They called on Gov. Greg Abbott to call a special session to address the data centers.
“I would call on Governor Abbott to call a special session,” said Brandy Debenport. “Put your money where your mouth is … Why wait till after this next election?”
While Abbott has yet to call a special session, he has called for new data centers to be blocked in rural areas of Texas.
Concerned Texans are encouraged to contact their local representatives regarding data centers. Local residents can also check out the Bowie/Miller County Data Center Opposition Facebook group, run by Texarkana resident Sandy Hatcher.
