Mr. Leyva says of Presidio’s proposed data center: “It will make money for y’all …” Let’s look at that argument squarely.
We all understand that technology evolves quickly. Oftentimes our phones and computers become obsolete in a few years. Data centers aren’t the exception to this. They are planned to last 3-5 years, at which point they will be decommissioned. In today’s dollars, decommissioning will cost about $30 million dollars. The data center companies and their affiliates will not pay for this decommissioning. This means the city and county residents will pay that money.
Now let’s check in on some other costs. Data centers generate tonal noise. Tonal noise is infra sound. We know the effects of this on human beings, domestic animals and wildlife. It has shown effects on the fertility of livestock such as cows and horses near data centers. It increases the heart rate of the fetus in their mother’s womb. It is detrimental to sleep and can cause cardiac problems in people. People near data centers have had to leave their homes due to illness from both tonal noise and the noise you can hear from the machines. Property values go down around these centers. Wells run dry or their water becomes unusable even to bathe in. All of these things entail huge costs and are equally devastating to human and environmental health.
The problems with data centers are known. I ask local planners: “Have you really looked at the financials regarding these centers?” If you have, you will see that while the company will make money, the city and county will lose money. You will also lose our beautiful dark skies even with lighting mitigation. You will harm human and animal health, make water potentially unusable and pollute the air. Why not choose to develop this area with businesses which provide job to local residents and services which benefit our people?
Jill Berkana
Ft. Davis, TX
