Communities across Nebraska and the country are being approached by companies looking for locations to build data centers. The rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, online storage, and digital services has created unprecedented demand for this type of infrastructure. 

The President has declared it a national security issue. There have been 39 data center related projects in Nebraska of various sizes, almost exclusively in eastern Nebraska.

Larger data centers typically look for 1,000 to 1,200 acres that would provide adequate space to build a data center and a co-locating energy production plant. Smaller ones target acreages of 50 acres and smaller, but are primarily in municipal boundaries.

How much water would a data center use?

This depends on the type of cooling system used.

Some data centers use large amounts of water, especially some of the older ones built. Improved technology has reduced the water demand significantly with closed loop, and air-cooling systems. Water usage is one of the many topics that should be evaluated during project review.

In Nebraska, and specifically Lincoln County, a closed-loop system is considered as a requirement. While discussions have occurred with Twin Platte NRD, a 2-million-gallon system would be needed for a large data center. This facility would be the equivalent of 1 large irrigation pivot running for two days. It would not need to be refilled for 5-6 years.

The challenge is the amount of water the power generation system uses, which would likely need to retire between 10-15 pivots for its cooling operation. 

As technology improves this will dimmish also and once the public power entity can provide stable long-term power, that’s likely the preferred source of data centers.

This information is from the North Platte Chamber of Commerce. It is part of the Bulletin’s continuing series of information about data centers. – Editor

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