Know the Local Impacts

Why This Project Affects You and the Entire Region**

Purpose of This Section

This section answers the question:

“Why does a data center in one location affect everyone?”

Data centers may look like isolated facilities, but their impacts spread across shared systems — water, electricity, air, drainage, and public health.

You do not need to understand every impact.

You only need to understand one that matters to you.

Impact 1: Water — A Shared, Limited System

The Rio Grande Valley gets about 90% of its water from the Rio Grande River, a river that is already heavily depleted before it reaches South Texas.

The region’s other major waterway, the Arroyo Colorado, is:

An impaired waterway
Largely sustained by wastewater discharges
Part of the same interconnected system

Why a Data Center Changes the Equation

Large data centers require:

Continuous cooling
Constant water availability
No interruption during drought

Even if a data center uses effluent or reclaimed water, that water:

Still originated from the Rio Grande
Is already part of the regional reuse cycle
Reduces flexibility during drought emergencies

Key point:

There is no “extra” water in the RGV system. Any new large demand tightens supply for everyone.

Impact 2: Energy — Always-On Demand on a Fragile Grid

Data centers are 24/7, always-on facilities.

Unlike homes or businesses:

They cannot reduce usage during peak demand
They do not shut down during heat waves
Their load is constant, not flexible

What This Means for the RGV

Electricity demand is shared across the ERCOT grid
Large new loads increase strain on transmission and substations
Infrastructure upgrades are required to support them
Those upgrades are often paid for through higher rates

When the grid struggles:

Homes are asked to conserve
Data centers stay online
Backup generators may activate, adding emissions

Impact 3: Flooding — Water Has to Go Somewhere

Cameron County and the RGV have experienced:

Multiple extreme rain events in recent years
Increasing flood frequency in low-lying areas

Large developments create:

Impervious surfaces (concrete and asphalt)
Faster runoff
Higher downstream flood risk

Why This Matters

When water can’t soak into the ground:

It moves sideways
It flows into nearby neighborhoods
Older communities flood first

Flooding is not just about rain — it’s about where and how we build.

Impact 4: Air Quality & Health — Cumulative Stress

The Rio Grande Valley already faces:

High cardiovascular disease rates
Rising respiratory illness
High obesity and diabetes prevalence

These conditions are caused by many stacked factors, including:

Heat
Air quality
Access to care
Environmental exposure

Where Data Centers Fit

Data centers contribute to air pollution through:

Backup generators (diesel or gas)
Generator testing, even without outages
Increased fossil fuel generation on the grid

One project may meet permit limits.

Multiple projects stack exposure over time.

Health impacts are cumulative, not isolated.

Impact 5: Cost of Living — Who Pays Over Time

Data centers pay for their direct utility use.

Communities pay for:

Grid upgrades
Water system expansion
Wastewater capacity
Drainage improvements
Long-term maintenance and debt

Those costs show up as:

Higher water bills
Higher electricity rates
Higher taxes or fees

Even if a project leaves, the infrastructure debt remains.

Why This Section Matters

You don’t need to argue every impact.

Choose the one that affects you most:

Your water bill
Your electricity bill
Flooding in your neighborhood
Health concerns
Long-term affordability

Speak from that place.

How to Use This Section Effectively

Before a meeting:

Pick one impact
Read only that subsection
Write down one sentence that stood out

At the meeting:

Focus on that single issue
Connect it to your life or neighborhood
Ask for consideration, not confrontation

This section helps you confidently answer:

“Why does this project matter to me and my community?”