Q&A: During East Texas stop, Texas land commissioner discusses data centers, water resources and the Alamo
Texas General Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, during an East Texas campaign stop, discussed her views on data centers, stating concerns about water, electricity, and land usage. She emphasized that new data centers should not be built until these issues are addressed. Her comments came as part of a broader interview about her first term and re-election bid, focusing on protecting natural resources and state historical sites.
Texas General Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, while campaigning for reelection in Marshall, discussed her policy priorities including the state's natural resources and the Alamo. During an interview, Commissioner Buckingham addressed the growing controversy surrounding data center development in Texas. She voiced concerns regarding the industry's impact on water and electricity resources, as well as its occupation of productive land. Buckingham asserted that further data center construction should be halted until these environmental and resource-related concerns are adequately resolved.
As part of her re-election platform, Buckingham highlighted achievements from her first term, such as combating human trafficking, funding education, and disaster recovery efforts. She also outlined future goals, including diversifying state revenue streams, advancing produced water recycling for agricultural use to address water shortages, and ensuring the long-term preservation of the Alamo through a $550 million restoration project. Additionally, Buckingham provided an update on the proposed East Texas State Veterans Cemetery near Hallsville, which is awaiting federal funding and resolution of land title issues.