COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) – Ahead of a crucial City Council session this Thursday, Brandon Schwertner, the head of Priority Power, is addressing what he considers misunderstandings surrounding a proposed data facility. The project has encountered considerable pushback from College Station locals.
Schwertner explains that initial confusion arose from preliminary documentation, circulated on social media, which mentioned Bitcoin mining. Despite this, developers now emphasize the project’s core function is data processing and Artificial Intelligence applications.
Schwertner intends to request the city council this week to eliminate any language referring to cryptocurrency from the existing land agreement with the city.
“I believe there was a widespread, and understandable, misconception that this was intended to be a Bitcoin mining operation,” Schwertner stated. “We will formally request that the City Council removes any such references.”
Schwertner, a Texas A&M alumnus and former football player, highlighted that the planned data center, located near the Midtown area, behind Costco, would prioritize high-performance computing and Artificial Intelligence. He added it could potentially offer valuable support to the university, generate new jobs, and contribute significantly to the city’s tax base.
“This initiative will inject more business activity into the city,” he asserted. “The beneficial tax revenue and job creation are undeniable.”
Some concerns voiced by College Station residents stem from experiences in other Texas locales. In Granbury, residents near a Bitcoin mining facility report experiencing constant noise pollution that significantly degrades their quality of life.
“Even at 10 p.m., while standing next to my truck,” one resident described, “all you can hear is the relentless hum of the Bitcoin operation. It’s inescapable.”
Another Granbury resident described the detrimental effects of the noise on their health.
“I experience random bouts of disorientation and motion sickness during the day,” they explained. “Sleep is elusive at night. The overwhelming noise permeates the walls and windows of my home.”
Schwertner assured College Station inhabitants that such conditions will not arise. “The technology is now much more advanced. And noise regulations are firmly established,” he said. “These aspects are all being addressed. Should this project proceed within the city limits, noise issues will not be tolerated – the city would not permit them.”
Regarding infrastructure and utilities, Schwertner noted that the city had previously designated a specific water allocation for the site and this proposal would adhere to that limit. The project’s power needs would be met externally to prevent any impact on residential utility costs, he clarified.
“The power supply for this project will come from external sources, not from the city’s residential power grid. The presence of a high-performance computing center will not reduce the power available to residents or drive up prices for them,” he stated.
“The city would deliver power to the facility, similar to how it services homes, charging a predetermined rate for doing so. The project’s energy usage will not affect the energy costs of local residents.”
The College Station City Council is set to convene this Thursday to further examine the proposal. A large group of residents is anticipated to attend, many of whom plan to voice their objections to the project.
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