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Residents urge Harlingen commission to pause talks with proposed AI data center over water and power concerns
Summary
Multiple residents and regional advocates urged the Harlingen City Commission to halt or openly review reported talks about an AI/data center, citing water use estimates, power-grid strain and a lack of transparency; no formal proposal was before the commission and officials said they could not respond during citizen comments.
Several Harlingen residents told the city commission that talks about a proposed AI/data center should be paused and publicly explained, saying the project could strain water and power systems and deliver few long-term local jobs.
"We need to be transparent with citizens of Harlingen," resident Raymond Reyes said, urging the commission to disclose details he said were circulating in media reports. Multiple speakers raised similar concerns about secrecy and potential resource impacts.
Why it matters: Speakers said large data centers consume substantial water and electricity and that Harlingen’s infrastructure and drought-prone location make those demands risky. "Large…
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