Laredo officials call for special session, moratorium on data center permits
Laredo officials, including State Representative Richard Peña Raymond, Mayor Victor Treviño, and Congressman Henry Cuellar, called for a special legislative session in Texas and a moratorium on new data center permits. They cite critical concerns over water usage, strain on electricity infrastructure, and the need for comprehensive statewide regulation. Local opposition groups also voiced strong concerns regarding transparency and environmental impact.
State Representative Richard Peña Raymond, Laredo Mayor Victor Treviño, and Congressman Henry Cuellar held a joint press conference in Laredo, Texas, to urge Governor Greg Abbott to call a special legislative session. Their primary objective is to address growing concerns over the proliferation of data centers in the state and to implement a moratorium on new data center permits and construction approvals until comprehensive state-level regulations can be established. Raymond has formally requested the governor to halt fast-tracking of projects, citing an increase in Texas's operating data centers to 130 with over 250 more in the pipeline. A recent poll indicating 56% of Texas voters oppose data center construction in their communities underscores the urgency.
Mayor Treviño expressed support for the statewide moratorium and disclosed that Laredo currently has no pending data center applications. However, he has directed the city manager to develop a regulatory framework to evaluate future proposals based on water use, electrical demands, environmental impacts, and long-term sustainability, highlighting Laredo's status as an underserved, drought-stricken area. Treviño warned against diminished natural resources and increased taxpayer burden for infrastructure expansion. He also mentioned that while Laredo recently secured additional water capacity, it must be responsible with its resources.
Congressman Cuellar echoed the calls for careful planning, clear rules, and transparent public review for projects impacting water resources, electricity reliability, and public infrastructure. He specifically referenced two proposed Webb County developments: the Talise development, which has denied plans for a data center, and "Data City Texas," a massive 50,000-acre project with potential for 5 gigawatts of data center space. Cuellar underscored the significant water and electricity consumption of such facilities, comparable to tens of thousands of households.
The officials emphasized the need for transparency, with private developers bearing incremental infrastructure costs, and independent review of critical community resources. Rick Treviño, representing the opposition group Fronteras Sin Data Centers, voiced concerns about water use, air quality, and lack of transparency from developers like "Data City Texas." Both the city of Laredo and Fronteras Sin Data Centers have scheduled upcoming public meetings to discuss data center impacts and regulations. The Texas House State Affairs Committee, on which Raymond serves, is also scheduled to hold a hearing on data centers in August.