City of Taylor apologizes for online announcement during meeting on proposed data center ban
The City of Taylor is apologizing for a poorly timed social media post during a city council meeting on a proposed data center ban. A community group, "Halt Taylor Data Centers," submitted a petition for the ban, but the city stated it could not be considered under Texas law. The city now plans to propose amendments to create new requirements for digital infrastructure, addressing environmental concerns like water usage, air quality, and noise pollution.
The City of Taylor faced public backlash and issued an apology for a poorly timed social media post made during a city council meeting concerning a proposed data center ban. Residents packed the meeting, led by the group "Halt Taylor Data Centers," which had gathered over 1,400 petition signatures to advocate for a community-led ordinance to prohibit data center development. However, during public comment, the city announced that the proposal could not be considered under Texas law. The city manager acknowledged the error in announcing this decision online shortly after the meeting began, expressing deep regret.
Moving forward, the City of Taylor stated its intention to introduce amendments that would establish new requirements for digital infrastructure projects, including data centers. These proposed amendments aim to address environmental concerns such as water usage, air quality, and noise pollution. The city is currently soliciting public feedback on these potential changes via its website.