Last month, I spent five days in Amarillo to speak with and provide QPR (Question Persuade Refer) training to workers building one of the most advanced data center projects in the country. This data center, known as the Llano project, is located approximately 50 miles outside of Amarillo.
It is a massive project, currently one of the nine largest construction projects in the United States, focused on meeting Texas’s AI Demands. I am not the person to tell you the precise acreage; it’s huge; energy consumption; on par with a small city, and the environmental impact is obvious; none of this existed six months ago. If you are hungry for those specific details, please visit here and here to learn about the residents’ concerns and gain a basic understanding of this massive project.
My thoughts on the environmental, economic, and societal impact of these massive data centers are immaterial. However, I can tell you that the grit, sacrifice, professionalism, and kindness I witnessed during my visit confirmed that everything is definitely bigger in Texas. The AI’s synthesis of human thought cannot comprehend the genuine sacrifice and guts it takes to build its brains. This project is high-stakes, fast-moving, and happening in tough conditions, which is why it is essential to have open conversations about mental health.
A majority of the men and women on the site are not from the area. They have come to the area for this project. Many are living away from their families in motels and hotels and commuting to the site. Artificial intelligence requires real human effort and energy.
Back to the facts, my visit started super early; I helped kick off their work week with 1,100 tradespeople at Llano’s Monday morning site safety meeting in their “lunch tent” (it looked and felt like a massive hangar). My hands were shaking (it was a packed tent), but the message was clear–Texas Construction workers, just like those in Oregon, have an increased risk of suicide.
Here are some photos of my travels
the trucks flow like water
I spent the rest of the week leading QPR training on site. Over the next few months, more than 5,000 tradespeople will be working on the site.
At CSPP, we appreciate every chance we get to visit sites, spark conversations, and connect people with resources. Being on the ground expands our perspective and elevates our services; my time in Amarillo is a big addition to our outreach catalog.
If you want us to visit your site, please reach out at CSPPteam@linesforlife.org
