{"id":85212,"date":"2025-12-12T06:52:11","date_gmt":"2025-12-12T06:52:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/85212\/"},"modified":"2025-12-12T06:52:11","modified_gmt":"2025-12-12T06:52:11","slug":"city-council-discusses-potential-plan-to-track-regulate-san-antonio-data-centers-use-of-resources","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/85212\/","title":{"rendered":"City Council discusses potential plan to track, regulate San Antonio data centers\u2019 use of resources"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">SAN ANTONIO \u2013 A Council Consideration Request (CCR) that would determine regulatory measures needed to address the rapid growth of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ksat.com\/topic\/Data_Center\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.ksat.com\/topic\/Data_Center\/\">data centers<\/a> in San Antonio will proceed to a special committee.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">During Wednesday\u2019s Governance Committee meeting, City Council members spoke on San Antonio\u2019s influx of data centers and the need to consider potential risks they pose to water and energy resources.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cHow do we understand that the benefit of these (data centers) outweigh the costs?\u201d Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones asked.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Data centers, which house the computer systems that power online activities and services, have garnered controversy for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ksat.com\/tech\/2025\/08\/09\/as-electric-bills-rise-evidence-mounts-that-data-centers-share-blame-states-feel-pressure-to-act\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.ksat.com\/tech\/2025\/08\/09\/as-electric-bills-rise-evidence-mounts-that-data-centers-share-blame-states-feel-pressure-to-act\/\">reports of their extensive use of water and energy resources<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">In November, District 6 Councilman Ric Galvan told KSAT that there are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ksat.com\/news\/local\/2025\/11\/11\/mapping-the-dozens-of-data-centers-in-san-antonio-city-council-to-consider-first-request-for-center-policy-planning\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.ksat.com\/news\/local\/2025\/11\/11\/mapping-the-dozens-of-data-centers-in-san-antonio-city-council-to-consider-first-request-for-center-policy-planning\/\">nearly 50 data centers<\/a> either completed or planned to break ground in the San Antonio region.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Galvan, who filed the CCR in October, said this is \u201cthe first step in the right direction in creating that public conversation, making sure we\u2019re clearing the air on what this industry is, what it means to our community.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">The Development Services Department (DSD) proposed the following steps to kickstart the process:<\/p>\n<p>Compile a comprehensive list of applicable regulations at local and state levels<\/p>\n<p>Engage stakeholders, including municipal utilities<\/p>\n<p>Determine applicable code changes based on statutory allowances<\/p>\n<p>Present recommendations to the Planning and Community Development Committee<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">DSD would coordinate with the San Antonio Water System (SAWS) and CPS Energy to review the actual impact of water and energy resources from data centers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Galvan\u2019s consideration also mentions possible amendments to the Unified Development Code, which guides land use in San Antonio and has no specific ruling on data center developments.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Jones said she had \u201cheard discussion\u201d on the potential development of data centers on San Antonio\u2019s military bases\u2019 available land.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cAs part of that discussion, we want to understand those entities that are exercising their own agency, what that may mean,\u201d Jones said in regard to the military bases.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">The group voted in favor of allowing these discussions to continue with the Planning and Community Development Committee.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Councilmembers Edward Mungia (D4) and Teri Castillo (D5) both signed onto the CCR and comprise the Planning and Community Development Committee with Galvan and Sukh Kaur (D1).<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Peter Bella, a former environmental planner and concerned resident, expressed his support of the CCR and said San Antonio citizens need to be cognizant of an impact to their water and electricity bills as well.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cWe need to be extremely vigilant and make sure that the people, the customers, know what\u2019s going on as far as the demands that data centers require of them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Read also:<\/p>\n<p>Copyright 2025 by KSAT &#8211; All rights reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"SAN ANTONIO \u2013 A Council Consideration Request (CCR) that would determine regulatory measures needed to address the 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