Advancing Sustainable Data Center Development in Texas
The Center for Energy Economics (CEE) at the Bureau of Economic Geology, UT Austin, is actively researching and facilitating the sustainable growth of data centers in Texas. Our multidisciplinary approach addresses the complex integration of digital infrastructure with energy, water, and economic systems. Our goal is to guide Texas towards a future of sustainable and economically beneficial digital infrastructure.
Building Shared Understanding
White Papers
Data Center Growth in Texas: Energy, Infrastructure, and Policy Pathways
- Release Date: May 2025
- Scope: Foundational primer for policymakers, communities, and industry.
- Highlights: Infrastructure reuse, water planning, energy integration, and land use.
- Objective: Inform strategic alignment of data infrastructure with energy systems.
Workshops and Engagement
September 2025 Sustainable Data Center Workshop
- Objective: Facilitate discussions among developers, utilities, regulators, and communities.
- Topics: Siting trade-offs, long-term planning, coordinated investment strategies.
- Outcome: Shared stakeholder understanding and aligned strategic goals.
Deep Dive & Leading Research Front
Peer-Reviewed Publication
Geospatial Suitability Analysis for Data Center Placement
Our GIS-based peer-reviewed publication identifies optimal locations for data center placement through detailed geospatial analysis. It incorporates energy resources, infrastructure proximity, environmental hazards, and fiber connectivity to assess suitability across Texas counties.
2025 Strategic Energy Seed Grant Award
- Funding Source: UT Austin Energy Institute
- Project Duration: May 2025 - August 2026
- Key Research Areas:
- Granular site selection for sustainable data center development in counties including Smith, Hidalgo, Taylor, and Lubbock.
- Innovative strategies in renewable energy, carbon management, water sustainability, and hydrogen energy storage.
- Integrated economic revitalization leveraging renewable energy deployment, repurposing legacy oil and gas sites, and utilizing geological storage.
Read the Seed Grant Announcement →
TRAIL Map: Texas Resilient and Advanced Industrial Load
Our comprehensive data-driven platform, TRAIL, supports strategic planning for:
- Industrial load growth and electric load forecasting
- Infrastructure and generation alignment
- Resource management including detailed analyses of water use, land-use patterns, and emissions hotspots
- Identifying synergies with emerging energy and infrastructure projects such as hydrogen production, ammonia integration, and CCS development
Contact and Collaborations
Interested in collaborating or learning more about our projects?
Contact: Ning Lin, Email Us →
