City Council to receive AI data center petition from Save Lubbock
The Lubbock City Council is set to receive a citizen-led petition proposing an 18-month moratorium on high-energy and high-water-use data centers. This follows concerns raised by the Save Lubbock advocacy group regarding resource strain. The council will hold a public hearing before deciding whether to adopt the ordinance or send it to voters.
The Lubbock City Council is scheduled to receive a citizen-led petition on Tuesday afternoon, August 27, proposing an 18-month moratorium on the development of data centers with high energy and water consumption within the city. The petition, championed by the Save Lubbock advocacy group, highlights community concerns about the potential impact of such facilities on local resources like water and electricity.
The initiative began on June 3 when the Save Lubbock organization filed an initiating statement with the City Secretary. Following a 60-day period, a petition with 3,910 signatures was submitted on August 3. The City Secretary's office verified 3,407 of these signatures, surpassing the required 2,410 to bring the matter before the council.
Under the City of Lubbock Charter, the City Council is now obligated to officially receive the petition and schedule a public hearing, which is slated for the September 8 city council meeting. During this hearing, community members will have the opportunity to present arguments for and against the proposed ordinance. Subsequently, the council has 30 days to make a final decision: either adopt the citizen-proposed ordinance or reject it, thereby sending the measure to city voters in the upcoming November election.