(From left: Canadian County District 1 Commissioner Tom Manske, District 18 State Sen. Jack Stewart (R-Yukon), District 60 State Rep. Mike Kelley (R-Yukon), and Deckard. (Photo by Conrad Dudderar)
The city manager in Yukon where a $1 billion data center project was recently proposed says it’s still not a done deal.
It’s what Jeff Deckard said at a recent Yukon Chamber of Commerce Legislative Breakfast.
“It’s not a guaranteed deal. We are simply still exploring the opportunity—and what that looks like,” said Deckard, reported the Yukon Progress.
He also pledged that as the city of Yukon explores a possible new water source in Bethany, the water would not be used for cooling purposes of the data center to be possibly located on the west side of Yukon. Deckard explained Yukon will test three existing wells on public lands owned by Bethany in what is known as the Garber Wellington Aquifer.
He emphasized any water from Bethany would not be used on the data center, should it be built.
“It has nothing to do with the data center. We are 100% committed to not using potable water for the cooling of the data center—if it works,” he said, according to the Progress. “And I guarantee you. We’re not going to use potable water at all, at any time, for that cooling.”
If a data center as proposed were to be built, it would have a need of nearly 3 million gallons of water per day for cooling purposes. Developer Beltline Energy Landholdings LLC recently acquired 184 acres from the City at Highway 66 and Frisco Road at Yukon’s west side.
Disclosure of the deal led to immediate concern from some Yukon residents who raised questions about power needs and whether it would mean higher electric rates for them. They also questioned the impact on the Yukon water supplies.
However, the project still must need approval from the Yukon City Council, including a water agreement and a separate power agreement between Oklahoma Gas and Electric and the developer.
Click here for Yukon Progress