North Texas Local Governments Report Infrastructure Strain from Rapid Data Center Growth
A recent survey by the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) reveals that local governments in North Texas are struggling to keep pace with the rapid growth of data centers, which is straining local infrastructure and policy readiness. The survey, which included 31 cities and counties, found that nearly two-thirds have either approved a data center in the last decade or are actively considering one. However, 78% of respondents indicated that their existing municipal infrastructure cannot support data center development without significant upgrades. Water supply was identified as the top infrastructure concern by 96% of respondents, followed by the electric grid at 81%. A similar percentage, 96%, agreed that data centers significantly impact local water resources and challenge grid reliability. High water consumption (93%) and energy use (81%) were the leading environmental concerns. Despite these challenges, local governments recognize the economic opportunities, such as tax revenue and diver... 
