Proposed Harlingen data center draws opposition over water and power use

There’s a small but vocal group of Harlingen residents who oppose data centers in the Rio Grande Valley, concerned about potential strains to water and electricity infrastructure. 

Retired information technology professional Raymond Reyes told city commissioners that he can’t support a data center because of a potential strain on water resources. 

“There’s already a drought in Texas to begin with; that’s an ongoing issue. Water is very important,” Reyes said. 

Harlingen resident Max Garza said he worries that a data center will “deplete all the resources” and that “there’s really no gains” from such a project because it doesn’t create very many new jobs.