Texas Senate candidate David Cook proposes statewide data center energy and water rules
Republican candidate David Cook identified the growth of data centers in rural areas as a major concern for Texas Senate District 22. He said he would pursue statewide rules requiring data centers to disclose energy and water use, provide meaningful public input, bring their own power, conserve water and avoid shifting utility costs to local ratepayers.
David Cook, the Republican nominee for Texas Senate District 22 and a former Mansfield mayor and Texas House representative, said data center growth in rural areas is the biggest issue facing his constituents. He pledged to introduce legislation requiring data centers to address energy and water demands, improve permitting transparency and give affected communities a meaningful role in the process.
Cook also proposed a statewide framework requiring data centers to disclose resource use, provide their own power, use closed-loop or other water-conservation systems and prevent costs from being passed on to local utility customers. The article presents his positions as a candidate questionnaire response; it does not identify a specific data center project or company.