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Ten Across ConversationsTen Across Conversations examines pressing issues impacting communities along the U.S. Interstate 10 corridor. From Jacksonville, Florida to Los Angeles, California, this region provides a compelling and comprehensive window into the major challenges... Author: Ten Across
Ten Across Conversations examines pressing issues impacting communities along the U.S. Interstate 10 corridor. From Jacksonville, Florida to Los Angeles, California, this region provides a compelling and comprehensive window into the major challenges and opportunities of the 21st century in their most extreme. Join founder and executive director, Wellington Duke Reiter, as he chats with subject experts bringing unique insights and new ways of thinking to reveal our collective capacity to create a more resilient future. For more information about the Ten Across Initiative visit www.10across.com. Language: en Genres: News, News Commentary Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Part Four: Two Texas Cities that Are Reexamining Data Center Deals
Episode 126
Thursday, 30 April, 2026
As artificial intelligence has grown globally, so has the construction of immense, resource-intensive data centers. The arrival of these projects-- both the facilities and the powerful tech companies behind them-- in communities throughout the U.S. has created some controversy. Ten Across cities like Tucson, El Paso and San Antonio have made headlines recently for community resistance to development deals that might strain local resources in exchange for uncertain or marginal economic benefits. In the fourth and final installment in this series on the nexus of Texas water, energy, and growth, host Duke Reiter looks at what these stories can tell us about similar scenarios playing out in the Ten Across region and in the nation at large. He is joined by San Antonio District 6 Councilmember Ric Galvan and Robert Moore, founder of the nonprofit newsroom El Paso Matters, to discuss: The importance of preventing “develop-by-right” policies and preferential treatment toward private industry from permitting data center developments at significant expense to local communitiesThe value of intentional partnership between local utilities and governments when evaluating resource-intensive land use proposalsWhat the AI boom may mean—for better and for worse—for the future of local economic development and job growth Stay until the end of the episode for takeaways from the rest of the series and for the Interstate 10 corridor as a whole. Missed an episode? Get caught up on parts 1-3, linked below.Relevant Articles and Resources “San Antonio looks to create tailor-made model for data center growth” (Community Impact, March 2026)“El Paso Electric filings detail power plant impact behind Meta’s $10 billion data center” (El Paso Matters, March 2026) “’We can’t do this a lot’: El Paso Water CEO warns as questions grow over Meta data center’s water use” (El Paso Matters, December 2025) “Podcast: We discuss Northeast El Paso data center, tax breaks for Meta, city’s economic future” (El Paso Matters, December 2025) “Tucson City Council rejects Project Blue data center amid intense community pressure” (Arizona Luminaria, August 2025) Local Data Center Development Guides Produced by Friends of Ten Across “The Data Center Next Door” (USC Annenberg Center for Climate Journalism and Communication, April 2026) “Turning the data center boom into long-term, local prosperity” (Brookings, February 2026) Relevant Ten Across Conversations Podcasts Texas Series Trailer Part One: Can Texas Drought-Proof Its Economic Miracle? Part Two: Does Texas Have the Water Support an AI Boom? Part Three: Oil Wars, Nuclear, and AI—Can Texas Power America’s Future? CreditsHost: Duke ReiterWriter and producer: Taylor GriffithEditor: Kate CarefootResearch and support provided by: Rae Ulrich, Kelly Saunders, Maya Chari, and Sabine Butler About our guestsRic Galvan represents District 6 on San Antonio’s City Council. Prior to that, he was a District 5 staff member and President of the Piper Meadow neighborhood association. At 25, he is among the youngest members ever elected to the council. Robert Moore is the founder and CEO of El Paso Matters. He has been a journalist in the Texas Borderlands since 1986.
