NVIDIA has broken ground on a new “AI factory” in Fort Worth, Texas, which will be responsible for the construction of AI supercomputers featuring the company’s most advanced AI systems. The factory will create 800 new jobs and represent a $700 million investment in the city.

Concerns Over Data Centers

The factory’s opening comes as Fort Worth leaders grapple with the rapid expansion and construction of data centers in the city. Earlier in July, five Fort Worth City Council members signed a letter calling for a temporary moratorium on data center construction. However, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang emphasized that the company’s new factory differs from traditional data centers, with a focus on liquid cooling and energy efficiency.

According to Huang, the old generation of data centers used a lot of water and cooling technology, but the new factory will use 100% liquid cooling, resulting in extremely low water usage and high energy efficiency. Fort Worth City Manager Jay Chapa noted that while data centers are a different type of land use, the city needs to balance the benefits of these facilities with the concerns of the local community.

Next Steps

The Fort Worth City Council will vote on August 11 on whether to adopt a moratorium on data center construction, which would give the city more time to draft guidelines for future data centers. The city currently has four active data centers, with one under construction and four others in the planning stages.

Original reporting: Dallas – Ft. Worth Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.