NTXIA Roundtable: Data Centers & Sustainability

Last week, NTXIA brought together a powerful cross-section of voices — researchers, industry innovators, policymakers, and community advocates — for a member convening on one of the most consequential issues shaping North Texas right now: the sustainability and community impact of AI data center growth.

Data centers are no longer just an infrastructure story. They're a workforce story, an energy story, a water story, and increasingly, a community resource story.

With Texas on track to potentially surpass Virginia as the nation's top data center market, the DFW region is at the center of this shift. Our conversation explored the full spectrum — from the engineering frontiers of liquid cooling and microgrid integration, to what it means for residents across the region who are asking to be part of these decisions. Thank you so much to our experts, Dr. Wei-Jen Lee at The University of Texas at Arlington and Vance Peterson from Schneider Electric for setting up the conversation.

A few themes stood out:

📡 The technology is advancing fast — next-generation AI facilities can use 20% less power and significantly less water than traditional data centers, and closed-loop liquid cooling systems are making zero-water-use designs a real possibility.

⚡ The grid relationship is evolving — gigawatt-scale facilities have the potential to act as flexible grid assets, not just consumers, participating in demand response and helping stabilize ERCOT during peak events.

🏘️ Community engagement way earlier — the strongest outcomes come when residents are part of conversations early, and when "what commitments come with this project?" becomes a standard question alongside "should this project happen?"

North Texas Innovation Alliance's role is to bridge the gap between the pace of technological change and the readiness of our communities, institutions, and governments to navigate it well. This convening was a reflection of that mission — connecting the technical, economic, and human dimensions of a challenge our region can't afford to approach in silos.