Jourdanton Crowd Erupts Over Mystery Data Center Plan
Atascosa County residents in Jourdanton recently packed a meeting to demand answers from officials about a potential data center project. Concerns were raised regarding groundwater depletion, loss of farmland, and strain on local services, with residents calling for transparency and public review. County leaders stated that no contracts have been signed and they are still gathering information, while a state official urged statewide restrictions on data center expansion.
Residents of Atascosa County in Jourdanton held a public information meeting to address a potential data center project that has sparked community fears. Attendees, filling the county justice center, pressed local officials for details, expressing concerns that the facility could deplete groundwater, consume valuable farmland, and overwhelm local services. They cited existing strain on wells and irrigation systems in the county, home to over 48,000 people.
County leaders indicated they are still in the information-gathering phase, with County Judge Weldon P. Cude assuring the public that no contracts have been signed. The county had previously issued a press release stating it had not been contacted by the company associated with the proposed project. However, residents are demanding full transparency, including disclosure of communications with developers and a public review process before any agreements are finalized.
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller joined the discussion, warning of Texas's severe water limitations and advocating for Gov. Greg Abbott to convene a special session to implement "guardrails" on data center expansion. Miller emphasized the broader implications for water resources and agricultural land. This local dispute in Atascosa County highlights a growing statewide debate as Texas experiences a surge in data center proposals, often in areas where counties lack zoning authority over unincorporated land, and water usage projections raise significant environmental concerns.