City Council discusses data center rules, considers moratorium
San Antonio City Council is deliberating new zoning regulations for data centers, including requiring setbacks and prohibiting construction in the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone. The council is also considering a six-month moratorium on new data center development to allow time for these regulations to be finalized. These proposals have garnered mixed reactions among stakeholders and council members.
San Antonio City Council is actively discussing new requirements for data centers within its jurisdiction, including a potential six-month moratorium on further development. These measures aim to address growing concerns about the industry's impact on local communities and resources, despite Texas being a burgeoning hub for data center construction.
Proposals from the city's Development Services Department include amendments to San Antonio’s zoning laws, which would restrict data centers to industrial or commercial districts. Additionally, new rules would enforce a minimum 500-foot setback from residential areas, schools, hospitals, and assisted living facilities, and prohibit construction in the environmentally sensitive Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone. Projects unable to meet these criteria would require direct City Council approval. The 500-foot setback has drawn scrutiny, with advocates like Deedee Belmares of Public Citizen urging more research into noise, light, air pollution, and heat impacts before finalization.
While the proposed zoning updates are expected to be finalized by the Zoning Commission in September and potentially approved by the City Council in October, the idea of a temporary moratorium has received mixed opinions. Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez (D2) supported the moratorium, citing data centers as a significant threat to natural resources. However, Development Services director Amin Tohmaz noted that any existing projects already negotiating utility services would be exempt, numbering at least 12. Other council members highlighted the economic benefits, such as property tax revenue and job creation, with labor representatives like the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) emphasizing the employment opportunities in data center construction.
A notable gap in the current proposals is the lack of regulations concerning water and power consumption. Councilman Ric Galvan (D6), whose district already houses 11 data centers, urged San Antonio’s publicly owned utilities, CPS Energy and SAWS, to implement policies addressing these critical resource issues. This local discussion follows a statewide moratorium issued by Gov. Greg Abbott on data centers connecting to Texas’ power grid, pending audits by ERCOT, though this state measure exempts facilities with independent power sources.