SAN ANTONIO \u2013 The San Antonio City Council wants to look at changing its development code to get a handle on the boom of data centers.<\/p>\n
Data centers, which house the computer systems that power our online activities and services, have garnered controversy for reports of their extensive use of water and energy resources<\/a>.<\/p>\n During a discussion about their growth this week, CPS Energy and San Antonio Water System officials told council members there are more than 20 data centers already in the area, and more are looking to move in. <\/p>\n >> Mapping the dozens of data centers in San Antonio; City Council to consider first request for center policy planning<\/a><\/p>\n Neither utility appeared to be overly concerned with the boom, though. <\/p>\n Donovan Burton, SAWS\u2019 senior vice president of water resources and governmental relations, called it a \u201chighly manageable risk,\u201d while CPS Energy CEO Rudy Garza confirmed the city is in a position to support moving more data centers to San Antonio \u201cif we all stay on the page on what we\u2019re trying to accomplish.\u201d <\/p>\n City Development Services Director Amin Tohmaz told council members the city\u2019s current regulations allow data centers in almost every zoning category, except residential. <\/p>\n Councilman Edward Mungia (D4) told KSAT that restricting the zoning would help the city council manage the expansion of data centers. <\/p>\n \u201cManaging where they are in, as far as closer proximity to residential houses, is important. I think that\u2019s kind of the more topic and top-of-mind for residents,\u201d he said, noting that any on-site power generation at the facilities can be noisy.<\/p>\n \u201cI think that\u2019s a concern for residents, is having these types of large buildings close to them, where we wouldn\u2019t normally allow something that large to be that close to them.”<\/p>\n Possible updates to the city\u2019s unified development code could include narrower limitations and requiring a 1,000 foot buffer from homes, parks, hospitals, or other recommended buildings.<\/p>\n