Thursday in Amarillo, leaders discuss AI-driven data center growth and community concerns
Thursday in Amarillo, leaders discuss AI-driven data center growth and community concerns
Publish Date: 2026-05-21 18:54:00
Source Domain: abc7amarillo.com
- A panel discussion in Amarillo focused on the growth of data centers driven by artificial intelligence and its impact on local communities.
- Former Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush stated that data centers do not consume as much water as some claims suggest, comparing their water usage to agricultural water usage in the area.
- Oldham County Judge Shawn Ballew highlighted the benefits of a data center in his county but emphasized the importance of establishing good relationships with companies during the planning phase to meet community needs.
- Bush argued that Texas is handling data centers more effectively compared to other states, pointing out energy cost advantages and policy successes over others like California and Virginia.
- Kendra Seawright of the Panhandle First Coalition expressed a desire for more educational opportunities and direct audience participation for community members to better understand different types of data centers and ask questions.
