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Small-scale data center pitch draws questions about water and utility impacts
Summary
Greenspark presented a plan for a modest data center (2 MW example) that would plug into existing power at the mill site; residents asked whether it would strain water or raise rates, and Greenspark and utility staff described closed-loop cooling and potential downward pressure on retail rates through steady power sales.
Greenspark described a small-scale data center model intended to use stranded generation capacity at the mill/6-mile site; company representatives said typical deployments are 1–2 MW and generate one to a few jobs but can provide stable, year-round load that helps utilities plan and potentially reduce retail rates.
A resident asked a pointed question about water use: “I think you need the understanding it’ll keep our utility rates lower. ...2-megawatt data centers use approximately what 2,000 homes would do. Do we have the capacity to do that?” Kevin Bennett (Wrangell Cooperative Association) asked during Q&A. Greenspark’s Sam replied that their design uses a closed-loop cooling system and does not require a continuous flow; “we don’t require a constant water flow… maybe we’ll top it off once a year,” he said. City and utility staff added context: staff estimated commissioning/peak top-off flows (35 gallons per minute mentioned as a design stab) and the public works director compared that to current nightly system dumping (about 50,000 gallons) to show relative scale.
Speakers noted both risks and possible benefits: utility representatives argued that steady power customers can reduce retail rates by using excess capacity, while audience members urged caution and asked for explicit water-priority policies for residents versus industrial users in drought scenarios. Officials said a water-shortage management plan exists and is reviewed annually.
