In the know.

Have you heard of a data mining center? For most people, the concept is brand new. Residents and staff of The Langford; however, became especially acquainted with the term in early September when the city of College Station was considering selling a plot of land in the mid-town area for this purpose, placing the building only 800 feet from The Langford.

Certainly, City Council members are charged with helping develop the city by entertaining these types of proposals. However, this particular proposal was vastly different than a restaurant or boutique. You see, data mining centers require a great deal of natural resources from the area, approximately 560 billion gallons of water   annually. This is a particularly concerning component for residents of the area who are actively being asked to observe mandatory water restrictions due to high demand and severe drought conditions.

An equally concerning condition of having a neighboring data mining center is the noise. TIME recently covered the issue in a piece titled, “We’re Living in a Nightmare: Inside the Health Crisis of a Texas Bitcoin Town.” The occupants nearest the data mine report a myriad of symptoms brought on by the constant low hum of the nearby computers. The tone and never ending nature of this noise is plaguing the residents of the area with new ailments like complaining of earaches, headaches, vertigo, seizure, hearing loss, fainting spells, hypertension, and depression.

Stacey Nehring, Executive Director at The Langford, didn’t get too far into her research before she had made up her mind. “As soon as I heard about it, I knew I needed to stand up and speak out for our residents,” said Nehring.  Within only a few days of getting this information, a City Council meeting would be held where citizens were invited to speak. Nehring was among 70 College Station residents who spoke at the meeting that went well into the night.

As Stacey took her place at the microphone and started her speech by reciting the City Council's own mission  statement saying, “On behalf of the citizens of College Station, home of Texas A&M, the city council will promote and advance the community’s quality of life.”

She went on, “I’m especially intrigued by the opening phrase…on behalf of the citizens…but what is it that you are doing on behalf of the citizens? Look to the final phrase...promote and advance the community’s quality of life. It is a noble thing to care for others…to improve and even defend their quality of life. I’m in a similar leadership position, you see, my name is Stacey Nehring, and I am the Executive Director of The Langford where I am responsible for the quality of life of 140 older adults who will live within 800 feet of the proposed data center. While the scale of my responsibilities is much smaller than yours, I too am anchored to a mission statement that guides my steps. Which is why I am here talking to you today. I take my mission to care for these elders as a sacred calling, I trust that you also take your mission statement to heart.”

She led the council to explore several points in their 2025 strategic plan promoting the following initiatives:

Good Governance: the expectation for transparent, efficient, and accountable governance on behalf of its citizens.

Core Services and Infrastructure: to maintain the citizens’ health, safety, and general welfare.

Neighborhood Integrity: see that the City’s neighborhoods are long-term, viable, safe, and appealing.

Diverse and Growing Economy: to generate high-quality, stable jobs that strengthen the sales and property tax base and contribute to an exceptional quality of life.

Sustainable City: to reduce energy and water consumption.  

In only the three minute timeframe she was given, she punched every point, weighing it against the standards they have set for themselves in the mission and points from their own strategic plan. Perhaps the punchiest portion of her speech came at the end when she said, “Please study the data, then come back and tell this body of citizens why you not only want to bring a data center like this to College Station… but you want to place it within 800 feet of a senior living community! In closing, I must ask you, on behalf of the citizens, will this city council promote and advance the community’s quality of life? The whole city of College Station is watching. We now have your mission statement and strategic plan top of mind. All eyes are on you. Please…fulfill your mission. Our quality of life depends on it, the very thing you took an oath to protect.”

As she turned, from the podium to return to her seat, the crowd cheered in support with many extending words of encouragement and adoration for her courage. As the meeting came to a close nearing the mid-night hour, the City Council finalized their vote to reject the data mining center proposal.  

The following day when she walked into work she was met with applause and hugs. Then, as the day went on, she received many emails from residents expressing appreciation.  

“Our prayers were answered,” said Stacey, “our voices were heard.”  

‍

‍