TEXAS — As communities across Texas continue to push back against data centers, those in the industry are looking for ways to gain trust with the public. The national organization Data Center Coalition launched its Texas Connects initiative in April. Texas Connects is a nonprofit to educate people about data centers and it’s doing so through ads.
The first ad was released in April and since then three other ads have come out. The launch of this campaign is in response to the backlash data centers have received from residents throughout the state.
According to the Texas Tribune, more than 300 data centers are operating in the state with more than 200 more planned.
The videos aim to address some of the main concerns opponents have about these projects, such as water and energy use.
A statement sent to Spectrum News from the president and CEO of the coalition, Josh Levi, reads in part, “Through Texas Connects, the industry seeks to better explain the role of data centers to the public, including how they operate, why they are important to our daily lives and the 21st-century economy, as well as factual information about the industry’s responsible usage of water and its commitment to paying for the energy it uses.”
However, there are some Texans who are skeptical of the ads.
“At the end of the day, just be truthful with people,” said Kevin Thompson, a Fort Worth resident. “That’s all we want to know. We just want the facts and don’t lie to us.”
Texans like Thompson are calling for more transparency when it comes to how data centers are approved and regulated. He says the information in the ads is inaccurate.
The coalition says the concerns people have about data centers in regards to things like water and power are stemming from misinformation, which is why the organization says it launched this campaign.