Victor Ortega RIO GRANDE VALLEY – A data center set to power artificial intelligence is under construction in Willacy County with measures to address environmental concerns.
The computers used to power AI in similar projects generate a lot of heat, relying on water-based cooling systems to avoid overheating.
Willacy County’s data center, located in the town of Santa Monica, is reported to use a closed-loop cooling system to avoid using millions of gallons of water every year.
Reynaldo Anzaldua, Department of Informatics and Engineering professor, explained this technology.
“Essentially, [a] closed-loop system is kind of like what you have in your car,” Anzaldua said. “It’s like that radiator system in your car. It just circulates water in a continuous closed loop.”
According to Soluna, the company behind the data center, the liquid being used for the cooling is set to be a mixture of ethylene glycol, a substance you can find in antifreeze, and water, which will be shipped to the site.
Anzaldua added using ethylene glycol would make the system require less maintenance than if it used just water.
Anzaldua said closed-loop technology became more common within the computing field to answer environmental concerns.
“[Companies] have shifted their engineering and operations to [look] at more efficient ways to do this,” Anzaldua said. “Closed-loop systems are one of them. You don’t waste as much water.”
Lance Stelling, mass communication senior, said he feels comfortable if the technology works as intended.
“I mean, if it’s if it works out [like they say], like, they’re reusing the water, then I think it’s good,” Stelling said.
Ricardo Balvanera, computer science and applied math senior, said he has concerns with the water and potential droughts.
“We’re basically [going to] run out of clean water all over the valley, and it’s really, really bad,” Balvanera said.
KVAQ-TV was unable to schedule an interview with Soluna members for comment.
