Massive data center proposal raises concerns in Jim Hogg County
A massive data center project is proposed for Agua Nueva in Jim Hogg County, Texas, raising significant concerns among residents. Locals are worried about the project's impact on water resources and their traditional way of life, with county officials indicating limited power to stop it. Residents anticipate the dispute may ultimately be resolved in court.
A proposal for a massive 515-megawatt data center campus in Jim Hogg County, Texas, is drawing strong opposition from local residents. The project, which would span over 8,000 acres in a settlement called Agua Nueva, located about 35 miles south of Hebbronville, is sparking fears about its impact on the region's limited water resources and the long-standing agricultural, ranching, and hunting way of life.
Residents, including Sas Zambrano, voiced their concerns to county leaders, emphasizing the area's drought conditions and the potential for the data center to consume vital water needed for their families, land, and livestock. They also questioned the long-term job creation, arguing that while construction might offer temporary employment, operational data centers typically require only a small number of specialized engineers.
County leadership, after meeting with representatives from both unnamed developers, stated they have limited power to halt the project. The Brush Country Groundwater Conservation District indicated it could potentially reject water permits, though it has never done so in its 17-year history of issuing 35 permits. Developers did not provide specific utility use numbers during the meeting, but construction could reportedly begin as early as 2029.
Many locals believe the dispute is heading to court, as suggested by the meeting being held in a packed courtroom. Residents are determined to fight what they see as an existential threat to their community, prepared for potential lawsuits regardless of the county's decision on the permits.