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Hundreds of residents urge Hays County to block proposed Cloudburst data center over water, air and noise concerns
Summary
A public workshop on Cloudburst Data Centers’ proposal in the county drew dozens of speakers who raised concerns about water use, emissions, light and noise. County staff said a floodplain permit is under review and that many approvals will come from state agencies and neighboring Guadalupe County.
Dozens of Hays County residents packed the commissioners court on May 20 to challenge a proposed Cloudburst AI data center and associated natural gas power plant planned for 2955 Francis Harris Lane, a site that includes York Creek and lies in a floodplain.
The majority of public commentators urged the Commissioners Court to oppose the project, arguing the large facility would consume scarce fresh water, increase greenhouse-gas and air pollution, harm springs and tributaries that feed the San Marcos River, and impose noise and light pollution on rural neighborhoods.
Why it matters: Cloudburst’s proposal includes an on-site power plant and significant cooling systems for computing hardware. Presenters and many residents said the project would demand millions of gallons of water per day for power generation and cooling and that San Marcos-area surface and groundwater supplies are already strained. County staff said some components of the development fall under Guadalupe County’s jurisdiction and that…
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