Austin's authorities are initiating steps to impose restrictions on new data center developments due to concerns over excessive water and electricity consumption. This follows similar bans or moratoriums enacted by other cities in Texas, North Carolina, Kentucky, and New Jersey.
Research from Ceres reveals that power plants servicing data centers across seven U.S. states consume approximately 3.4 trillion gallons of freshwater annually. Earlier this year, at least 75 projects, collectively valued at around $130 billion, faced local opposition.