City of Granbury considers zoning changes for data centers

The City of Granbury, Texas, is currently evaluating its stance on data center development amidst the state's rapid growth in the sector. Texas already hosts over 400 data center facilities and is projected to become the world's largest data center market, creating a "21st-century gold rush" according to local reports. On the evening of the report, Granbury was scheduled to hold a zoning meeting and public hearing to discuss modifying its standards for data centers and power generation. A separate public hearing was also planned for the rezoning of a nearly 2,100-acre property along Highway 377, though its direct connection to data center activity remained unclear. While data centers promise millions in revenue for cities, communities like Granbury are raising concerns about the associated costs, particularly the substantial demand for water and electricity. Data centers are noted as significant consumers of these resources, which can strain limited supplies in rural areas. This local consideration follows recent citizen action in Fort Worth, where residents successfully campaigned to pause plans for tax breaks intended for a company building a new data center within the city limits, highlighting growing public scrutiny over such developments.