Texas town to weigh data center ban following community pressure
Taylor, Texas officials are considering a resident-led petition to temporarily ban new data center development until a special zoning district is established. The initiative follows growing community opposition and a dismissed lawsuit, which is now being appealed, against a data center project by Blueprint Data Centers. This move reflects a broader trend in Texas as more cities and counties grapple with the rapid expansion of resource-intensive data centers.
The Taylor City Council is poised to discuss a resident-backed petition advocating for a temporary ban on new data center developments, proposing their removal from current zoning districts until a dedicated digital infrastructure zoning is established. Over 1,400 residents, organized by groups like HALT Taylor Data Centers, signed the petition, driven by concerns over inadequate zoning and the impact of the rapidly growing, resource-intensive industry on their community. Carrie D’Anna, a community activist, emphasized that the movement is a "people-first prerogative" rather than being anti-AI or anti-business.
The push for the ban comes amidst a wave of industrial growth in Taylor, including Samsung Electronics' chip factory and several approved data center projects, such as a $2.5 billion facility near Samsung and a 135,000-square-foot data center by Blueprint Data Centers. Community opposition to the Blueprint project escalated into a lawsuit, which was dismissed in October 2025 by a state district court judge, a decision currently under appeal.
Taylor is not alone in its struggle to regulate the data center industry; other Texas cities like San Marcos and Niederwald are considering similar bans. Hays County has already approved a water protection review period that temporarily pauses approvals for large, water-intensive developments. Governor Greg Abbott has also called for a statewide ban on new AI data centers in rural areas.
While the city of Taylor highlights the significant long-term tax revenue and high appraised values that data centers can bring with minimal traffic, residents argue that current zoning is insufficient to manage these developments. If approved, the petition would prevent new data centers from receiving permits until specific zoning regulations are enacted.