During an exclusive tour of Compass Datacenters’ sprawling campus in Red Oak, Texas, Fox News Digital saw firsthand how the company is marrying high‑tech infrastructure with community‑focused benefits. After three months of approvals, the site revealed a remarkably clean, quiet interior where rows of towering server racks sit on a spotless floor, all kept cool by a closed‑loop system that recirculates coolant instead of drawing fresh water.
Water conservation at the heart of the operation
Compass CEO Chris Crosby, a North Texas native, emphasized that the Red Oak campus has not used water for cooling since it began operating. “We haven’t used water since inception,” Crosby said, noting the importance of conserving the region’s precious resources. The closed‑loop cooling system recirculates coolant, reducing the strain on local water supplies and setting a model for environmentally responsible data‑center design.
Security designed to protect critical infrastructure
Security is another cornerstone of the facility. Crosby explained that the extensive layers of protection are not about secrecy but about safeguarding sensitive information and critical infrastructure. “Hacking is real, attacks on infrastructure are real,” he said. “If people knew that a bank or a government was operating at a particular facility, they could infiltrate that facility. So that’s why the levels of security are so high at our campuses.” Visitors passed through six security checkpoints and were required to wear personal protective equipment before entering the restricted area.
Boosting the local economy with blue‑collar jobs
Beyond the technology, Crosby highlighted the campus’ impact on the regional workforce. “Data centers are where the economic engine is going to be going forward,” he told Fox News Digital, pointing to the jobs, economic activity and tax revenue generated by the industry. Roughly 600 people work for Compass at the Red Oak campus, and Schneider Electric employs about 300 more. Thousands of construction workers have also cycled through the development since work began in 2019.
To meet growing demand for skilled labor, Compass partnered with Texas State Technical College to create the MEI Pathways program, a $12.6 million training facility offering a 12‑week curriculum for electricians, mechanics and technicians. “We can’t get enough people into this career,” Crosby said, underscoring the need for more trained workers in the sector.
Community investment and future growth
The campus, located roughly 20 miles south of Dallas, will eventually include ten data‑center buildings covering about 2.6 million square feet. In addition to the data‑center facilities, the site hosts a Schneider Electric manufacturing plant and a workforce training center. Compass has also worked with local officials on road, sewer and other infrastructure improvements, and donated $15 million toward a new animal shelter after Ellis County’s previous shelter arrangement ended.
As Texas grapples with the massive electricity demands of the data‑center boom, Crosby urged a balanced discussion that includes the benefits outside the server rooms. “I am tired of the elitism that this doesn’t create jobs,” he said, calling for recognition of the industry’s role in providing well‑paid, skilled positions for North Texans.
With its water‑saving technology, robust security, and commitment to workforce development, the Compass Datacenters Red Oak campus stands as a model of how high‑tech growth can align with traditional family values, community stewardship and individual liberty.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
