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Students and residents urge Amarillo to withdraw water partnership tied to Fermi data center
Summary
Multiple public commenters urged the council to halt steps toward a partnership with Fermi Incorporated and a proposed data-center campus, citing Ogallala Aquifer depletion, export of local water, tariff avoidance and air-quality concerns.
At the start of the public-comment period, Amarillo High School student Hazik Ayan (speaker 21) asked council to "terminate the city of Amarillo's partnership with Fermi Incorporated on the Donald J. Trump Advanced Energy and Intelligence campus," saying the city risks exporting local water and undermining community health. "Our water is for our people, mister mayor and dear councilman. They're not for the profits of Wall Street traders in New York City," Ayan said.
Ayan described a student survey and predicted local opposition if the project proceeds, and asked staff to withdraw a recent subzoning application that he said would let the company avoid tariffs. Adam Dedashti (speaker 23) followed and reinforced environmental concerns, saying that economic benefit does not outweigh "the environmental damage that it will cause to the city and its citizens." Council clarified municipal jurisdiction: the mayor noted the facility lies in Carson County and "the City of Amarillo has no jurisdiction over anything in regards to that project," except a 2.5-million-gallon-per-day water allocation the city currently holds.
Council thanked the speakers and asked staff to make factual follow-ups; no formal vote or direction to unilaterally terminate agreements was recorded during the meeting. The comments were entered into the record for council and staff consideration during planning and any future negotiations.
