By Allison Peck
NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — As Lincoln County commissioners prepare to revisit a proposed temporary moratorium on data center development Monday, one topic continues to dominate public discussion: water.
Questions about the Ogallala Aquifer, water consumption, and long-term impacts have fueled much of the public debate surrounding potential data center projects. But while residents have repeatedly asked how much water a data center would use, federal agencies and industry experts say the answer depends heavily on the design of the facility itself.
At this point, no specific data center proposal has been submitted in Lincoln County. As a result, many of the questions residents are asking remain unanswered.
Here are five key questions county officials and residents may still need answered before deciding how to move forward.
What cooling technology would be used?
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, cooling systems are one of the largest factors affecting water consumption at data centers.
Some facilities use evaporative cooling systems, which consume water as part of the cooling process. Others use closed-loop cooling systems that recirculate water, significantly reducing the amount of new water needed during operation.
Because no specific project has been proposed in Lincoln County, it is not known what type of cooling technology a future facility might utilize.
Where would the water come from?
Even if a future data center requires water for cooling, the source of that water would be a critical factor.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, some communities and companies have adopted water reuse systems that reduce reliance on groundwater supplies. The EPA cites a project in Quincy, Washington, where treated wastewater is reused for data center cooling. According to the agency, the project reduced groundwater demand by approximately 138 million gallons annually.
At this stage, no potential water source has been identified for any future Lincoln County data center because no formal project application has been submitted.
How much water would actually be used?
This is perhaps the most frequently asked question by residents, but it is also one of the most difficult to answer without a specific proposal.
According to the Department of Energy, water consumption can vary significantly depending on facility size, climate, cooling technology, and operational needs.
Microsoft has also publicly stated that some of its newer facilities are designed to reduce water consumption through alternative cooling methods and closed-loop systems.
Without detailed plans, county officials cannot currently determine how much water a future facility might require annually.
What role would local regulators play?
Many residents have expressed concern about impacts on the Ogallala Aquifer and local water resources.
Questions remain regarding what role agencies such as the Twin Platte Natural Resources District and other regulatory bodies would play in reviewing groundwater use, issuing permits, and monitoring compliance if a project were proposed.
During a recent interview with North Platte Post, Lincoln County Development Corporation President Gary Person noted that agencies such as the Twin Platte NRD would have a role in reviewing water-related issues as part of any future project proposal.
Understanding those regulatory processes may be an important part of evaluating how potential water use would be managed and overseen.
What conditions could Lincoln County require?
Another question raised during recent county discussions is what authority Lincoln County may have through the conditional use permit process.
Commissioners have discussed whether conditions could be placed on future projects to address concerns related to water use, infrastructure, noise, setbacks, and other operational issues.
Person has also pointed to the conditional use permit process as one tool local governments can use to establish requirements for proposed developments.
Whether those existing regulatory tools are sufficient has become one of the central questions in the ongoing discussion surrounding the proposed moratorium.
More Questions Than Answers
As commissioners prepare to revisit the proposed moratorium Monday morning, one thing is clear: many of the questions being asked by residents do not yet have project-specific answers.
During last week's discussion, some commissioners argued additional information was needed before deciding whether to impose a temporary moratorium. Others expressed confidence that concerns could be addressed through existing zoning and permitting processes.
For now, however, the debate over data centers in Lincoln County continues to center on a series of unanswered questions — and water remains near the top of the list.
Editor's Note: This article is part of an ongoing North Platte Post series covering data center development discussions in Lincoln County and across Nebraska.