Lubbock City Council schedules public hearing for data center moratorium
The Lubbock City Council has scheduled a public hearing for September 8 to discuss a citizens' petition for an 18-month moratorium on data center development. The "Save Lubbock" group successfully gathered over 3,900 verified signatures, prompting the council to unanimously accept the petition for consideration. Council members expressed concerns about potential conflicts with state regulations while also aiming to protect the city's water and power resources.
The Lubbock City Council has slated a public hearing for September 8 to address a citizen-initiated petition advocating for an 18-month moratorium on data center development within the city. The petition, spearheaded by the "Save Lubbock" group, successfully garnered more than 3,900 verified signatures by its August 3 submission deadline, surpassing the required 2,410.
At its August 25 meeting, the council unanimously voted to accept the petition, a procedural step that initiates discussion but does not enact the moratorium directly. Councilmember Tim Collins from District 6 voiced concerns that the proposed moratorium might conflict with existing state regulations. He indicated his intention to present alternative proposals that align citizen desires with enforceable city policies, emphasizing the need to protect Lubbock's water supply, power grid, and properties. If the council opts to reject the petition following the hearing, organizers retain the option to place the measure on a future general election ballot, though the deadline for the upcoming November election has passed, pushing any potential vote to May of next year.