Infrakey, an AI data center developer, bought 520 acres near Ross, Texas, to build a $10 billion AI data center campus with nearly 1 gigawatt of power capacity, enough to supply a midsize city, according to fortune.com. The project has sparked a divide between the neighboring towns of Ross and Lacy Lakeview, both near Waco, Texas, with contrasting views on the development’s impact.
Jim Jaska, the 80-year-old mayor of Ross, and Charles Wilson, 65, mayor of Lacy Lakeview, have a long personal history but differ sharply on the data center. Ross, a rural town of 200 without taxing authority, lies adjacent to the project site, with some residents bordering the land. Lacy Lakeview, seven miles south and legally positioned to tax the project, views the development through a different lens, highlighting the legal and economic disparities between the two communities.
The data center’s scale and power needs underscore the growing tensions in Texas over AI infrastructure. The nearly 1 gigawatt capacity represents a significant industrial footprint, raising concerns about environmental and social impacts in small towns. The divide between Ross and Lacy Lakeview reflects broader challenges in municipal law and resource allocation as AI-related projects expand in rural and suburban areas.
The project’s future hinges on local governance and community responses, with Ross lacking taxing authority while Lacy Lakeview stands to benefit financially. The data center’s development is a focal point for debates on AI’s role in regional economies and infrastructure, illustrating how municipal boundaries influence the distribution of benefits and risks in emerging technology projects.