Wichita Falls Residents Debated Data Center Plans

Local leaders and the public weighed the impact of a proposed Skybox facility on area resources.

Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Data Centers

A large industrial cooling unit stands on a concrete pad surrounded by a flat, dry Texas prairie landscape. — Wichita Falls community leaders and residents continue to debate the long-term impact of the proposed Skybox data center on local water and power resources. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Do you support the construction of new large-scale data centers in your local community?

Wichita Falls community members and officials met to discuss a major data center development proposed by Skybox. The project has sparked a local debate over potential strain on water supplies and the current lack of state-level regulations.

Why it matters

The proposal highlights the tension between attracting infrastructure investment to boost the local tax base and managing the long-term consumption of vital community resources like water and power.

The proposed Skybox campus features six buildings requiring a total of 845 megawatts of electricity. The facility is designed to consume 3.6 million gallons of water annually through a closed-loop system.

The players

Skybox

This company is the developer proposing the construction of a new data center campus in Wichita Falls.

Wichita Falls

This city is the site of the proposed development and the location where public debate over the project is occurring.

The details

Skybox maintains that the project will triple the local tax base while providing 845 megawatts of redundant power to the grid, with the facility switching to on-site generators during grid emergencies. Residents remain skeptical about the facility's overall demand and the absence of specific state regulations governing such high-consumption developments.

Winter Storm Yuri in 2021 caused emergency electrical grid actions.
City leaders and Skybox representatives held a public forum on September 27, 2026.

The Tech Race

The project's emergency generator plan follows a pattern set by the grid vulnerabilities exposed during Winter Storm Yuri. This reflects a broader industry shift where data center developers must account for grid reliability in high-consumption regions.

The development could lead to a significant increase in the local tax base, potentially funding community infrastructure improvements. However, residents face concerns regarding potential future water supply availability and electrical grid usage.

The takeaway

Large-scale data center projects require a careful balancing act between the economic benefits of a broadened tax base and the physical strain on regional utility resources. Residents should track upcoming city council sessions for updates on regulatory requirements and water conservation commitments.