<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3eJ2I7_1Gv0tm2b00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3eJ2I7_1Gv0tm2b00" width="1662" height="1247" ><figcaption>Donna Kelleher spoke to the Granbury City Council Nov. 3, expressing concerns about the possible negative impact of a potential data center in the city. Jeff Osborne | Hood County News</figcaption></figure>Donna Kelleher spoke to the Granbury City Council Nov. 3, expressing concerns about the possible negative impact of a potential data center in the citConcerns over a proposed data center in the Knox Ranch area, which was annexed into the city of Granbury earlier this year, prompted three area residents to address the Granbury City Council Nov. 3 to voice their misgivings.Andy Wolford, founder of Risknology, a risk analysis firm, and Donna Kelleher, a retired project manager, both warned the council about potential negative impacts if the proposed data center, referred to as Project Patriot, is approved and moves forward.“It has been mentioned multiple times in previous city council meetings that thermal plumes emitted from simple gas turbine generators located in the Knox Ranch area within the proposed Project Patriot concept plan had potential for detrimental interference with operations of the Granbury Municipal Airport,” Wolford said.“I am personally not aware of any research or study taken by the developer, the airport or the city,” he said. “Consequently, I carried out modeling using the ‘thermal plume analyzer’ software developed by the MITRE Corporation.”The MITRE Corporation is a nonprofit organization that manages federally funded research and development centers supporting U.S. government agencies and is focused on defense and national security, cybersecurity, aviation, and healthcare and homeland security.“Preliminary findings indicate this proposed power plant concept will detrimentally impact the protected airspace of the Granbury airport, and furthermore, that no relocation of the (turbines) on the proposed site will mitigate these impacts,” Wolford said.“Therefore, mayor and council, it clearly would be irresponsible for you to make any decision towards approval of Project Patriot until the impacts of thermal plume interference are fully resolved,” he said. “Can you agree to that tonight, to avoid any unnecessary legal fees associated with filing an emergency injunction?”The council discussed Project Patriot and other economic development negotiations in executive session, which is closed to the public. However, no action was taken following the executive session.Kelleher said there are four risks the council should address before approving the project.“Risk 1 is Project Patriot received approval from TCEQ (the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality) for eight gas-fired turbines with 100-foot stacks,” Kelleher said. “Was Granbury Regional Airport considered in the decision?”Kelleher said these plumes are “incompatible with airport aviation safety standards.” She added that project sponsors “have a duty to protect the airport,” that "invisible hazards must be considered based upon proximity to the airport” and said that plumes from the gas turbines would be a hazard to airport operations.She asked if the city had submitted information or sought approval from the Federal Aviation Administration regarding the proposed project, adding, “If not, stop — you have to stop. Every council member and the mayor has a duty to protect Granbury Regional Airport. Every airport operation is going to be impacted by these turbines. You cannot put this (project) in (that location).”Kelleher said another risk relates to potential impact to the watershed, and expressed concerns with possible runoff from a data center at Knox Ranch having a negative impact on the community.A third risk she mentioned is air quality impacted by the gas-powered turbines, and a fourth is negative economic and health consequences.Mack Bennett said he is also concerned about the negative impact of a data center being located in Granbury.“I want to remind the citizens of Granbury they have good water,” Bennett said. He added that contested well hearings before the Upper Trinity Groundwater Conservation District can delay data center projects by 12-18 months, adding, “It’s one of the ways we can slow projects down.”The city did not address Project Patriot during open session. City Manager Chris Coffman has said city staff have discussed the project with developers, but added he is uncertain if the project will proceed.</div></body>

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Donna Kelleher spoke to the Granbury City Council Nov. 3, expressing concerns about the possible negative impact of a potential data center in the cit. Concerns over a proposed data center in the Knox Ranch area, which was annexed into the city of Granbury earlier this year, prompted three area residents to address the Granbury City Council Nov. 3 to voice their misgivings.

City hears data center concerns

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Donna Kelleher spoke to the Granbury City Council Nov. 3, expressing concerns about the possible negative impact of a potential data center in the cit. Con

City hears data center concerns

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