Compass Datacenters CEO Chris Crosby argues that data center operators must invest in local infrastructure to address community concerns. Speaking to Fox News Digital, Crosby outlined how his company integrated into Red Oak, Texas, a town of approximately 20,000 people located 20 miles south of Dallas. The approach involves funding public projects and adopting cooling systems that do not consume water.
Crosby stated that companies should identify local needs and plan improvements that benefit residents. He cited specific examples of capital investments that communities should request, including fire trucks, new schools, and baseball fields. "These are important capital investments that can really boost a community," Crosby said. He emphasized the responsibility of placing long-term assets into a community, noting that a "hundred-year-type asset" must be built in conjunction with local stakeholders.
In Red Oak, Compass provided $15 million for an animal shelter following the SPCA's decision to end its town contract last year. The company also partnered with Texas State Technical College on a $12.6 million training facility. This facility expands the school’s Mechanical, Electrical and IT Data Center Pathway program, a 12-week course designed to prepare individuals for skilled trades such as electrician, mechanic, carpentry, welding, and concrete work. Crosby noted that the program is open to people without prior qualifications and aims to address a shortage of workers in the industry.
"We can’t get enough people into this career," Crosby said. He criticized previous cultural shifts toward four-year degrees, stating that the focus on blue-collar jobs has returned. The Red Oak campus, which began development in 2019, currently houses 10 data center buildings, a Schneider Electric manufacturing facility, and the training center. Approximately 900 people work on site, with roughly 600 employed by Compass and 300 by Schneider Electric. Crosby highlighted these permanent positions alongside the thousands of construction workers who have been employed on the project over the past five years.
Crosby addressed criticisms that data centers do not create lasting American jobs by pointing to the workforce at his campus. "I am tired of the elitism that this doesn’t create jobs," he said. He also detailed the facility’s water usage, stating that Compass has not used water for cooling since inception. Crosby attributed this decision to his upbringing in North Texas and his view of water as a precious resource. At the Red Oak facility, water is used only for bathrooms.
The company utilizes a hybrid cooling system capable of operating with air or liquid cooling. Crosby acknowledged that avoiding water cooling can reduce efficiency but considered the trade-off worthwhile. Regarding power demand, Crosby said Compass favors connecting to the grid and believes data center companies should help pay for transmission and generation upgrades. He suggested that facilities could help reduce peak demand and grid congestion by adjusting when they draw power.
To manage power infrastructure, Compass donated seven parcels to the transmission provider to route power lines without using eminent domain. Crosby said this approach also helps control noise and light pollution while meeting EPA noise limits at the property line. He described the goal as being a "quiet neighbor" that respects the community's resources.