Clearing Up Misconceptions in College Station
With a city council vote approaching, Priority Power CEO Brandon Schwertner is addressing widespread concerns about a proposed data facility in College Station, Texas. Many residents oppose the project due to early documents that mentioned Bitcoin mining, but Schwertner emphasizes it's actually a high-performance data center focused on artificial intelligence (AI) and computing.
Schwertner plans to ask the city council to remove any cryptocurrency-related language from the land agreement, stating, "I think there was a general misconception, and rightfully so, that this was going to be a Bitcoin mining site. We’ll be asking the city council to strike that."
Benefits and Reassurances for the Community
The data center, planned near the Midtown area behind Costco, is designed to support AI and high-performance computing, potentially benefiting Texas A&M University, creating jobs, and generating tax revenue. Schwertner, a third-generation Aggie and former Texas A&M football player, highlighted the economic advantages: "It’s going to bring more business into the city. You can’t argue the taxation benefits that the city will get, the job creations."
Addressing noise concerns inspired by issues in other Texas communities like Granbury, where residents report disruptive sounds from Bitcoin mines, Schwertner assured that College Station would not face similar problems. He explained, "The technology is more sophisticated. Noise ordinances are known... So if this is going to be located in a city, there’s not going to be noise issues — the city wouldn’t allow for it."
Infrastructure and Utility Considerations
On utilities, Schwertner noted that the project would stay within previously allocated water limits and source power externally to avoid impacting residents' electricity bills. "The power is going to be externally sourced to that project... it’s not going to affect any of the residents in that area just because it’s a large user of electricity," he said.
The College Station City Council is set to meet to discuss the proposal, with dozens of residents expected to voice opposition.
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