Cameron County, TX — New details are emerging about a massive Fluidstack data center campus proposed on more than 1,100 acres near Rio Hondo, offering a clearer picture of how one of South Texas’ largest proposed technology developments could affect surrounding infrastructure.
Fluidstack says construction could begin as early as fall 2026, with the developer projecting more than 2,500 construction jobs and several hundred permanent positions.
The development is located outside Rio Hondo city limits, northeast of Harlingen and between the Harlingen airport area and Port of Harlingen.
WATER DEMAND
East Rio Hondo Water Supply Corporation says Fluidstack has requested approximately 50,000 gallons of potable water per day.
If continuously used at that level, that would equal approximately 1.5 million gallons per 30-day month or 18.25 million gallons annually.
However, Fluidstack says the water would not primarily be used for continuously cooling servers. The developer says the campus is planned around a closed-loop cooling system, where water used for cooling is recirculated after an initial fill.
Ongoing potable water would instead primarily support employees and normal facility needs such as bathrooms and kitchens.
The water question is particularly significant because East Rio Hondo Water Supply Corporation relies primarily on Rio Grande water and is currently operating under Stage 1 drought contingency measures with voluntary conservation.
RIO HONDO SAYS PROJECT IS OUTSIDE ITS JURISDICTION
Despite frequently being described as the “Rio Hondo” data center, the project is not located within Rio Hondo city limits.
City officials have said Rio Hondo has no agreements or business relationship with Fluidstack involving the project’s permits, utilities, resources or infrastructure because the development sits outside the city’s jurisdiction.
Harlingen does have a potential infrastructure connection. City commissioners are considering an agreement that would allow stormwater from the development to enter a city-owned drainage ditch.
That agreement would involve drainage infrastructure and should not be confused with Harlingen approving the overall data center.
POWER INFRASTRUCTURE
Fluidstack says it intends to obtain electricity through AEP Texas and pay for infrastructure improvements specifically required by the development.
Electricity demand from data centers and other major industrial projects has become an increasingly significant issue across Texas as utilities plan billions of dollars in transmission upgrades to accommodate potential new load.
Fluidstack has not requested or received local property-tax abatements for the Cameron County project, according to the developer.
Several major details still remain to be finalized, including infrastructure arrangements, approvals and the project’s ultimate impact on surrounding communities.
But with construction targeted to begin this fall, the proposed 1,100-acre campus is beginning to move from concept toward a much more defined South Texas development.