Concerns Expressed About AI Data Center Trying to Build Here
Commissioner says “ungodly” amount of water needed to keep computers and machines cool
At last Thursday’s Fayette County Commissioners Court meeting, Pct. 4 Commissioner Drew Brossmann spoke about the company wanting to bring an artificial intelligence data center to the southeastern part of the County.
“In the Ammannsville and Dubina area, there has been a company named Geronimo contacting landowners,” Brossmann said. “They’re trying to find a 500-acre plot to put an AI data storage facility there. Just a little bit of research I did on the AI data storage facility: it takes an ungodly amount of water to keep the computers and the machines cool in there.
“We really don’t need to waste our ground water that we have in this area,” Brossmann went on to say. “I know they contacted Fayette Water Supply and asked them if they would be able to go ahead and supply them water. Fayette Water Supply’s wells can’t even handle how much water they’re asking for out in that area.”
Ronnie Wick, General Manager at Fayette Water Supply Corporation (FWSC), told the Record that the company contacted him about five months ago to inquire about water supply. Wick said that as he recalled, the company said they would need 500 gallons per minute for the AI data center.
“Our pipes are not big enough to push that much water in that area,” Wick said. “It would interrupt our customers every day with the amount of water they’d be pulling.”
“If they were to build in that area, they would have to find their own water,” Wick added.
The Record called the Fayette Groundwater Conservation District last week to see if the company has inquired about drilling a water well for the data center. Staff at the groundwater district said they have not spoken to anyone from Geronimo Power.
At the Commissioners Court meeting last Thursday, Brossmann raised additional concerns about the amount of electricity the AI data center would use.
“(W)e already have some strain on our grids during the winter time and during the summer time,” Brossmann said. “We really don’t need something like that drawn off of it, in my opinion.
“You can do with your land what you want,” Brossmann added. “I’m just throwing my two cents out there. Before you sign or before you agree with anybody, they’re not asking to lease. They’re actually asking to purchase the land and buy it. Before you jump on board, make sure you do a little homework and really look in to see what all it’s going to entail. I don’t think it’s going to be something good for Fayette County at all.”
The Record attempted to reach Geronimo Power by email and telephone last week. They have not responded.