I am a local, born and raised, even started a family here in Odessa, Texas, so this is very personal to me. To see our officials give in to data centers is very disappointing, even when there’s proof that data centers harm everyone and everything around, is upsetting. Below I have listed several harmful facts about Data Centers.

 

Fact, Data Centers pose high health risks for the surrounding communities, such as Noise Pollution, Light Pollution, Air Pollution, Water Waste, & Cost Increases in Energy & Water for local consumers.

 

Fact, Data  Centers generate noise levels that may exceed 90 decibels, Noise levels above 85 decibels are harmful to hearing.

 

Fact, Hyper-scale facilities require all-night lighting that disrupts the natural rhythms of the body, such as melatonin, the hormone that regulates sleep. Light pollution also disrupts migration patterns for native species of birds, bats and other native animals in our area.

 

* Long term impacts of both noise & light pollution include hearing loss, stress, insomnia & decreased quality of life.

 

Fact, data centers, especially gas-powered data centers, emit significant pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides, methane, according to a September 2025 study ( https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772985025000262 ) these pollutants increase rates of respiratory diseases & cardiovascular conditions & elevate cancer risks among nearby communities. 

 

Fact, a large data center will use up to 5 million gallons of water daily, drawing from local water supplies, data centers increase the threat of water insecurity especially out here in West Texas. Where will we get the water? Who’s footing the bill for this? 

 

Fact, Data centers have typically not paid their fair share in utilities, particularly for electricity consumption, and in those situations other consumers (including residential customers) have had to pay more than they otherwise would.

 

 Utility companies identify data centers as large load customers, meaning that they require a lot more energy from the power grid. When a utility grid operator must add new infrastructure to accommodate growing populations or large load customers, rates may increase for all users in that region, despite attempts to regulate those increases or to allocate costs to the large load customer. In fact, utility grid operators will sometimes negotiate lower rates to incentivize large load customers to build in their territory, meaning that additional expenses must be covered by locals.

 

The surge in electric demand to power these facilities is pressing concern. An increased strain on the electric grid can result in higher electricity bills, compounding financial pressures on families already facing economic challenges. These rising costs not only strain individual households but could potentially drive residents away from our beloved hometown.

 

The future of Odessa lies in maintaining a sustainable and healthy living environment, not sacrificing it for industrial gains. Local authorities must prioritize the welfare of residents and preserve the character of our community over the construction of data centers.

 

Let's work together to protect our beloved Odessa. I urge you to sign this petition to halt the development of data centers in our area, for the sake of our community, our health, and our way of life. Your support can help safeguard the environment and ensure a prosperous future for all residents of Odessa.

 

Here I have listed below several sites where I got my information from: 

 

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772985025000262

 

https://www.environmentalhealthproject.org/post/the-dangers-of-data-centers

 

https://www.wri.org/insights/us-data-center-growth-impacts

 

https://www.techpolicy.press/data-center-boom-risks-health-of-already-vulnerable-communities/

 

https://youtu.be/t-8TDOFqkQA?si=CeSp8-ERowybtQbU

 

https://youtu.be/YN6BEUA4jNU?si=lDhsMZNsAnJatvdD