No answer in mere support or opposition… Texas residents seek solutions for data centers [Report]

Haskell, Texas, a city in the United States with a population of approximately 3,100. Located in the center of Haskell County, new stores have opened and old shops have changed their appearance near the city hall over the past few years. This is because foot traffic from outsiders has increased in what was once such a quiet rural village that it was called a "sleeping town."

Laura Bowers, director of the Haskell Development Corporation (DCOH), whom we met on Oct. 2 (local time), said, "As more people visit the area, restaurants, food suppliers, fence contractors, security companies, and lodging businesses have benefited." She added, "For about the past two years, many businesses have utilized the city's store improvement support policy."

The restaurant "Camacho and Charles," which opened near the city hall about a year and a half ago, is one such example. Joe Ray Camacho (54, photo), the owner whom we met at the restaurant that morning, explained, "We have more customers, and thanks to that, we have been able to hire more employees."

He continued, "The data center coming here helps me, and it also helps the people I employ." Initially expecting around 20 staff members, they hired an additional 10 to 15 due to the influx of people into the village, bringing the current workforce to over 30.

The village's changes did not start with data centers. According to Director Bowers, the first large-scale solar project in Haskell arrived about 10 years ago. As wind and solar projects continued, construction workers would come in and leave once the work was completed, a cycle that repeated. She noted, "There were periods when many construction workers came in, and then it became quiet after they left."

The addition of Google's data center construction increased the scale and speed of change. Haskell Mayor Christina Isbell met directly with Google to hear about their business plans last August. Speaking at the Haskell City Hall on the same day, Mayor Isbell said, "In this once-quiet area, cars are now backed up at traffic lights and lines form outside stores."

The changes are not entirely welcome. Handling the increasing number of people and vehicles is no small task for a small village. The main concerns cited by residents are water shortages, traffic, and rising housing costs.

For residents who normally experience droughts, data center water usage is a major worry. Karen Wolf, whom we met at the local community center that day, expressed concern, saying, "It is originally an area with droughts, and water was often scarce even before additional demand arose." She added, "Water is my biggest worry."

Having lived in Haskell since 1974, she stated, "It was designed to operate at the scale of a small village, but everything is coming in too fast," while also pointing out issues with large trucks constantly traveling on rural roads and speeding.

Housing shortages are also a realistic burden. Due to a lack of housing to accommodate construction workers, rents for existing homes have risen. Temporary living quarters made from camper vans have appeared throughout the village. Jennie Browning, whom we met at the same community center, said, "Rents have gone up so much that I don't know how tenants will afford their housing costs."

Nevertheless, among residents met during our reporting, voices expecting the future brought by new livelihoods were more dominant. Beyond the immediate construction boom, they hoped that new industries would take root, and that people and families would move into areas where younger generations had been leaving, thereby supporting schools and commercial districts.

Ruby Turner, who has lived in Haskell since 1958, expressed her view by saying, "Many people have come to the village," and "I am looking forward to it and support development." She added, "When a data center comes, there are both pros and cons." She continued, "It is a welcome thing that more people come, businesses increase, and people spend money here."

Kacey Moeller, Haskell Fire Chief, who visited the science and technology experience event for children and adolescents prepared by Google for the community on the 3rd with his three children, also expressed a welcoming stance. Born and raised in Haskell, he stated, "This has always been an agriculture-based community, but as that foundation declined, attracting companies and industries to keep the community going has always been a goal." He emphasized, "With data centers bringing people and children, there are far more kids even just in my neighborhood," adding, "Tax revenue has increased, and growth opportunities that did not exist before have emerged."

However, the rosy opportunities brought by large-scale projects do not automatically translate into local benefits. To reduce the pains of rapid change and turn opportunities into reality, the most important thing was "constant communication" bridging businesses and residents.

Mayor Isbell said she has been discussing regional issues with Google frequently since last year. She serves as a two-way communication channel, providing residents with accurate information they want and conveying their requests to the business side. To solve traffic problems, the Texas Department of Transportation, Google, the county, and the city are holding joint meetings to find solutions.

Underlying this is the philosophy that new investment must be turned into an opportunity for the region to revive. Mayor Isbell said, "As small towns declined, schools, gas stations, restaurants, and stores closed, and the population decreased." She added, "Because it is a very rural area with no opportunities, we had to find how to get the best results that would help us."

Having served as a bridge between businesses and the community for over a year, she emphasized dialogue to find solutions. Mayor Isbell stated, "We must make an effort if there is anything where we can look for a solution." She concluded, "The most important thing is that even if opinions differ, we must talk; we must find solutions by talking in order to coexist."

This special reporting was supported by the Korea Journalists Association and Climate Media Hub.