Austin, TX
Data Center Boom Threatens Texas Power Grid – Reform Austin
It’s not even summer yet, and the Texas power grid is already straining under demands because of high temperatures. One consistent worry is that the increasing number of data centers in the state may make it even harder for the electrical infrastructure to hold up once Texans start turning their air conditioning on full blast.
Data centers are large warehouses full of computer servers that keep the digital world running, everything from finance to social media. Texas has been aggressively luring data centers to be built in the state for most of a decade, drawn by the prestige of having tech companies like IBM and Amazon. Currently, Texas has 278 of them, with more being built.
The centers are also massive power drains. Data centers consume about 1,000 kilowatt-hours per square meter (ten times that of the average American home), and Texas has over 22 million square feet of data center space. Computing power is increasingly eating up a percentage of every state’s electricity generation.
Which is why many states are starting to rethink having these centers at all. Lawmakers in Connecticut, South Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia are questioning whether the tax breaks offered to data center builders are worth the expense. The centers do not generally translate into local jobs the way similar-sized facilities in industries like manufacturing do. Typically, high-paying positions at the centers go to relocating employees, with locals only able to secure janitorial and other maintenance work. Texas offers an exemption on sales tax for data center equipment over $200 million so long as the company promises to provide at least 20 above-average wages. That means that the state is trading at least $16.5 million for those jobs.
Meanwhile, the voracious appetite of the data centers is demanding more and more energy, especially as the AI boom adds to the need for power. According to the Electricity Reliability Council of Texas, data centers use 4 percent of the Texas grid, a number that will at least double by 2030.
Right now, it is the maintenance season for the Texas energy industry, which explains some of the strained grid when temperatures are barely around 90 degrees. However, there are some specific problems on the horizon. Many of these data centers not only want power, but they also demand renewable energy for both tax credits and prestige. Texas generates a large amount of renewable energy, but solar and wind still have poor storage capacity. That leaves the windmills and panels bespoke to these giant centers when in use and the industry having to rely on generators when it’s cloudy or calm.For another, Texas remains on its own power grid that can’t draw on other states when demand is high. Instead, we have a system where ERCOT appeals to the public to voluntarily reduce their usage during crunches, something that has mixed results. ERCOT can’t order a data center to shut down to prioritize residential and emergency power users, but they can offer to pay them to stop operating for awhile. It’s one more cost added to what data centers are draining from the state.
AUSTIN, Texas – The winter storm has made its way to Central Texas, causing impacts across the region, including to schools.
Some Central Texas school districts have adjusted their operations for Wednesday, Jan. 28, due to road conditions.
You can view the full list below:
School district delays
What we know:
Florence ISD
Florence ISD will be closed on Wednesday, Jan. 28.
Jarrell ISD
All Jarrell ISD campuses will be closed on Wednesday, Jan. 28.
Leander ISD
Leander ISD will operate on a 2-hour delay on Wednesday, Jan. 28, due to lingering freezing temperatures and the potential for icy conditions early in the morning.
St. Mary’s Catholic School
St. Mary’s Catholic School in Taylor will operate on a two-hour delay for Wednesday, Jan. 28.
- 9:30AM: Carline Start
- 10:00AM: Classes Start
The Source: Information from school districts
AUSTIN, Texas — Following a controversial deportation involving a 5-year-old, Austin City Council members and the city’s police chief will hold a community conversation to discuss the police department’s immigration policies.
On Thursday, Feb. 5, Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis, Mayor Pro Tem José “Chito” Vela and Councilmembers Vanessa Fuentes and José Velásquez will host a community conversation on “APD’s policies that impact our immigrant community.” It was originally scheduled for Jan. 26, but it was moved due to icy roads.
The discussion is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. at Govalle Elementary Cafeteria, 3601 Govalle Ave. Spanish interpretation services will be provided. Those interested in attending virtually can RSVP here to receive a Zoom link.
This comes after an Austin mother and her 5-year-old child were deported after the mother called 911 from her home. APD officers called Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on the mother after seeing an “administrative warrant” in a federal database. Following the incident, Austin City Council members released a statement condemning the actions of APD, and APD said they would update their ICE policy.
Nationwide, protests have erupted due to the actions of ICE officials, mainly in Minneapolis, Minn., where incidents like the detention of a father and his 5-year-old son to an immigration facility in Dilley, Texas, and the killings of Renee Nicole Good and VA nurse Alex Pretti by ICE officers have enraged residents.
In response to Pretti’s killing on Saturday, the Austin Immigrant Rights AC will hold a protest on Tuesday, Jan. 27, at 5:30 p.m. at the Texas Capital south entrance. The group had previously held a protest in early January after Good was killed.
AUSTIN, Texas – The winter storm has made its way to Central Texas, causing impacts across the region, including to schools.
Some Central Texas school districts, colleges and universities have adjusted their operations for Tuesday, Jan. 27, due to the arctic blast.
You can view the full list below:
School district closures/delays
What we know:
Austin ISD
All Austin ISD schools and offices will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Austin Community College
ACC will remain closed on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Bartlett ISD
Bartlett ISD schools and offices will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 27, due to unsafe road conditions.
All extracurricular activities are canceled.
Blanco ISD
All Blanco ISD schools will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Brentwood Christian School
Brentwood Christian School will be closed for Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Burnet CISD
All classes, activities, and events scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 27 are canceled.
Champions School of Real Estate
Champions School of Real Estate Austin campus will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Chapparral Star Academy
Chapparral Star Academy will be closed for Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Child Inc Head Start
Child Inc Head Start will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Cedars International Academy Schools
Cedars International Academy Schools will be closed for Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Del Valle ISD
All Del Valle ISD schools and offices will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Dripping Springs ISD
All Dripping Springs ISD campuses are canceled for Tuesday, Jan. 27.
District offices will be closed, as well.
Eanes ISD
All campuses and district offices will be closed for Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Elgin ISD
All campuses will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Florence ISD
Florence ISD will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Fredericksburg ISD
Fredericksburg ISD will be closed Tuesday, January 27.
Georgetown ISD
All Georgetown ISD campuses will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Granger ISD
Granger ISD has canceled school for Tuesday, Jan. 27, due to expected icy road conditions.
All schools will return to normal operations on Wednesday, Jan. 28.
Harper ISD
Harper ISD will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Hays CISD
All schools will remain closed for Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Huston-Tillotson University
Due to ongoing winter weather conditions, Huston-Tillotson University will operate remotely on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Hutto ISD
Hutto ISD has canceled school for Tuesday, Jan. 27, due to continued freezing temperatures and the potential for icy roadways.
Hyde Park Schools
All schools will be closed for Tuesday, Jan. 27.
IDEA Public Schools
IDEA Public Schools Greater Austin Region will be canceling all classes and activities for Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Jarrell ISD
All Jarrell ISD campuses are closed for Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Johnson City ISD
Johnson City ISD will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Lago Vista ISD
All campuses will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 27 due to hazardous road conditions from icy and refreezing streets.
Lake Travis ISD
All schools will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 27, due to possible road conditions.
Lampasas ISD
Lampasas ISD will remain closed for Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Leander ISD
Leander ISD schools and facilities will remain closed on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Lexington ISD
Lexington ISD will have a two-hour delayed start on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Buses will run two hours later than normal.
Liberty Hill ISD
Liberty Hill ISD will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 27, due to ongoing weather conditions.
Llano ISD
Llano ISD will remain closed on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Llano Christian Academy
Llano Christian Academy will remain closed on Tuesday, Jan. 27, due to icy roads.
Lockhart ISD
All Lockhart ISD schools will operate on a two-hour delay on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Manor ISD
All schools and offices will remain closed on Tuesday, Jan. 27, due to winter conditions.
Marble Falls ISD
All campuses will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Rockdale ISD
All Rockdale ISD schools and district facilities will remain closed on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Round Rock ISD
All Round Rock ISD classes and before- and after-school activities are canceled for Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Regents School of Austin
Regents School of Austin will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
San Antonio ISD
San Antonio ISD will reopen on Tuesday, Jan. 27, with a two-hour delayed start for students only.
San Marcos CISD
All San Marcos CISD campuses and offices will operate on a 2-hour delay for Tuesday, Jan. 27.
San Saba ISD
San Saba ISD will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 27, due to road conditions.
St. Mary’s Catholic School
St. Mary’s Catholic School in Taylor has decided to remain closed for Tuesday, Jan. 27.
St. Michael’s Prep
St. Michael’s Prep will be closed for Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Southwestern University
Southwestern University has canceled all classes on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Taylor ISD
Taylor ISD schools will remain closed Tuesday, Jan. 27 due to lingering icy conditions and roadways that may refreeze overnight.
Extracurricular activities are canceled or will be rescheduled.
Texas Empowerment Academy
Texas Empowerment Academy will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Texas State Technical College
Texas State Technical College’s Williamson County campus will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Texas State University
The San Marcos campus will operate as normal on Tuesday.
The Round Rock campus will have a delayed start at noon.
The University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin will remain closed through Tuesday, Jan. 27.
The Source: Information from school districts
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