Learn about Lubbock District 3 candidate Adam Hernandez's platforms

Candidate Adam Hernandez, vying for a Lubbock District 3 City Council seat in the May 2 municipal election, has voiced strong opposition to a proposed hyperscale AI data center in northeast Lubbock. The project, which was previously rejected by the Planning and Zoning Commission and subsequently withdrawn by the developer, is slated for resubmission. Hernandez, an entrepreneur and local activist, asserts that the city should not approve the data center without full disclosure of its water and energy consumption, particularly given Lubbock's high per-capita water use and reliance on the Ogallala Aquifer. He highlights concerns that a "full-blown gas plant" required to power the facility would release significant nitrous oxide emissions, exceeding all city traffic combined. Hernandez also critiques the project's purported economic benefits, labeling them as misleading. He points to substantial tax abatements, such as an 85% reduction seen in a similar project in Abilene, which he argues would provide minimal tax revenue to the city and school districts due to state laws and additional LEDA discounts. Furthermore, he contends that the project would create only about 300 permanent jobs after initial construction, with most construction jobs going to out-of-town workers. Hernandez advocates for strengthening Code Enforcement and bringing back impact fees to better manage city infrastructure and services, stating that any economic upside does not outweigh the environmental and fiscal risks for Lubbock citizens.