Abstract

Texas is rapidly emerging as a national hub for data centers, the physical backbone of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and the modern digital economy. While the energy demands of these facilities have received increasing attention, their water footprint remains largely overlooked. This presentation draws on recent analysis by the Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC) to examine the hidden water and energy costs of Texas’ data center boom and the implications for long-term resource planning.

Data centers are among the most resource‑intensive facilities ever built, consuming vast amounts of electricity and significant quantities of water for both power generation and on‑site cooling. In a state already facing recurring droughts, rapid population growth, and growing water supply gaps, the expansion of this sector presents a critical challenge. HARC’s research highlights how existing and projected data center growth could place substantial pressure on Texas’ water resources—pressures that are not fully reflected in current state water planning processes, which rely heavily on historical data rather than forward‑looking demand forecasts.

The presentation will explore the interconnected nature of water and energy use in data centers, regional patterns of data center development across Texas, and the structural “blind spots” in current planning frameworks. It will also outline key considerations for policymakers, utilities, planners, and industry leaders seeking to balance economic development with resource resilience. By bringing water into the data center conversation, this session emphasizes the need for more transparent reporting, improved forecasting, and integrated planning to ensure Texas can support a growing digital economy without compromising the reliability and affordability of its water and energy systems.

About the Speaker

Dr. Carlos Gamarra is the Vice President of Energy, Air, and Digital Solutions at HARC

He joined HARC in 2017, where he serves as department lead and provides executive-level decision support. Carlos has a track record of leading high-impact, multi-year, multi-million-dollar programs. He is an Advisory Council Member for the Texas Industrial Energy Efficiency Program (TIEEP) and serves as President of the Houston Chapter of the Association of Energy Engineers.

Dr. Gamarra began his career as an EPC engineer, designing, constructing, and commissioning industrial plants and energy infrastructure. In 2008, he started his own business as an independent engineering consultant in the energy field. Working part-time as an Assistant Professor at the University of Burgos sparked his interest in research, which culminated in joining the Instituto Tecnológico de Castilla y León in 2011.

In 2020, he received his Doctorate in Community Energy Systems Planning from the University of Burgos, which later resulted in his first DOE-funded project. In 2023, he received the Young Professional Award from the Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Alliance for his work on promoting the deployment of distributed generation technologies through the DOE’s Southcentral CHP TAP and Onsite Energy TAP programs.

Since 2017, Dr. Gamarra has pushed the boundaries of innovation in commercial buildings with his work on HARC’s Living Lab, a mid-size commercial office building where different technologies and operation strategies are tested and showcased for other users to adopt. Under his management, the building has been certified Net Zero, LEED Zero, Energy Star Rating of 99/100 since 2019, and a NextGen certification since 2024.