Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry addresses concerns over AI data center’s water use – KVII

Report on the Matador Project and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Project Overview

A proposal has been put forward by Fermi America, co-founded by former Texas Governor Rick Perry, to construct the Matador Project in Amarillo, Texas. The project’s objective is to establish the world’s largest Artificial Intelligence (AI) data center. The facility is planned to be powered by four nuclear reactors, with a projected energy output of 11 gigawatts. This initiative brings to the forefront a complex interplay between technological advancement, economic development, and environmental stewardship, directly engaging several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Implications

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure & SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The Matador Project represents a significant investment in resilient infrastructure and the promotion of inclusive and sustainable industrialization. By aiming to create the world’s largest AI data center, it directly supports innovation. Proponents, including Mr. Perry, frame the project as critical for national security and competitiveness in the global AI landscape. Furthermore, the project promises to advance SDG 8 by creating approximately 5,000 jobs over the next decade, fostering sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth in the Amarillo region through partnerships with local educational institutions for workforce training.
• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy & SDG 13: Climate Action: The plan to power the energy-intensive data center with four nuclear reactors aligns with the objectives of SDG 7 and SDG 13. Nuclear power is a low-carbon energy source, and its use on this scale would be a significant action to combat climate change by avoiding the greenhouse gas emissions associated with fossil fuel-based power generation. This positions the project as a potential model for powering future large-scale industrial infrastructure sustainably.
• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: The project’s most significant challenge in relation to the SDGs lies with SDG 6. The proposed data center’s water requirements have raised considerable community concern, particularly given the regional risks of drought and the agricultural sector’s heavy reliance on local aquifers. The sustainable management of water resources is a central point of contention. Mr. Perry addressed this by stating the initial water usage would be comparable to that of “one pivot to water corn,” attempting to contextualize its impact relative to existing agricultural water use.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities & SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The project’s implementation directly impacts the sustainability of the Amarillo community. The decision before the Amarillo City Council regarding the sale of water to Fermi America is a critical exercise in local governance, requiring a balance between economic incentives and the long-term environmental health of the community. The collaboration between Fermi America, the city council, and local educational bodies exemplifies the multi-stakeholder partnerships (SDG 17) necessary to achieve sustainable development.

Key Considerations and Next Steps

The Matador Project presents a classic sustainable development dilemma, weighing significant economic and technological benefits against potential environmental strains.

1. Economic and Strategic Imperatives: The project is promoted as a driver of economic growth (SDG 8) and a crucial piece of national innovation infrastructure (SDG 9).
2. Environmental and Community Concerns: The primary opposition centers on the sustainable management of water resources (SDG 6) in an arid region, highlighting the need to protect vital resources for both agriculture and community consumption.
3. Governing Decision: The forthcoming decision by the Amarillo City Council on whether to sell water to Fermi America will be the determining factor. This vote will reflect the local government’s priorities in balancing industrial development with the principles of sustainable resource management for the community.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
   • The article’s central conflict revolves around water. The Matador Project’s water needs are a primary concern for the community, especially given the “regional drought risks and agricultural reliance on aquifers.” The decision by the “Amarillo City Council… on whether to sell water to Fermi America” directly addresses the governance and management of local water resources.
2. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • The project’s power source, “four nuclear reactors with a potential output of 11 gigawatts,” connects directly to this goal. Nuclear energy is a low-carbon energy source, and the scale of the project represents a significant development in energy infrastructure aimed at powering a high-demand industry.
3. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • The article highlights the project’s role in promoting “economic growth.” A key promised benefit is the “creation of approximately 5,000 jobs over the next decade,” which directly relates to the goal of creating decent work and fostering economic development within the Amarillo region.
4. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
   • The project aims to build the “world’s largest AI data center,” a significant piece of modern technological infrastructure. This initiative is explicitly linked to “national security, innovation, and economic growth,” aligning with the goal of building resilient infrastructure and fostering innovation.
5. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • The article discusses the project’s impact on the local community of Amarillo. The involvement of the “Amarillo City Council” in the decision-making process and the acknowledgment of “community concerns about water usage” reflect the challenges and processes of sustainable urban planning and resource management at the local level.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 6.4: Substantially increase water-use efficiency and ensure sustainable withdrawals.
   • This target is relevant because the entire debate is about balancing the data center’s water needs against the region’s existing water stress (“drought risks” and “agricultural reliance”). Perry’s statement comparing the project’s water use to that of “one pivot to water corn” is an attempt to frame the project’s water-use efficiency in a local context.
2. Target 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
   • While nuclear is not renewable, it is a low-carbon energy source often included in clean energy strategies. The plan to build “four nuclear reactors” to power the data center represents a substantial investment in non-fossil fuel energy, contributing to the broader goal of decarbonizing energy-intensive industries.
3. Target 8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through technological upgrading and innovation.
   • Building the “world’s largest AI data center” is a prime example of technological upgrading and fostering innovation. The project is described as part of a “race to get to the artificial intelligence that’s going to be driven by these data centers,” directly linking it to achieving higher economic productivity through advanced technology.
4. Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure.
   • The Matador Project, encompassing both a massive data center and its dedicated nuclear power source, is a large-scale infrastructure development. Its purpose is to support “innovation, and economic growth,” aligning with the goal of building reliable infrastructure to support economic development.
5. Target 11.3: Enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory planning.
   • The article highlights a key moment in local governance: the “Amarillo City Council is set to decide Tuesday on whether to sell water.” This process, which involves weighing economic benefits against community concerns about resource sustainability, is a direct example of local planning and management for sustainable development.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicator for SDG 7 (Energy): Installed capacity of clean energy.
   • The article explicitly mentions the “potential output of 11 gigawatts” from the four nuclear reactors. This is a direct, quantifiable measure of new low-carbon electricity-generating capacity.
2. Indicator for SDG 8 (Economy): Job creation.
   • The article provides a specific number for job creation: “approximately 5,000 jobs over the next decade.” This is a direct indicator used to measure the project’s contribution to local employment and economic growth.
3. Indicator for SDG 6 (Water): Water consumption volume.
   • While not giving a precise number in cubic meters, the article provides a comparative measure of water usage: “about as much water for its first gigawatt. As one pivot to water corn.” This implies that water consumption is a key metric being used in the decision-making process to assess the project’s impact on local water resources.
4. Indicator for SDG 11 (Communities): Local government decision-making process.
   • The article implies an indicator of participatory governance by stating that the “Amarillo City Council is set to decide” on the project. This action represents a formal process for local planning and management, where community and environmental concerns are considered alongside economic proposals.

Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: abc7amarillo.com