Rural Texas counties turn to legislature to ensure responsible data center development
Rural Texas counties are raising concerns about the rapid boom in data center development, citing potential strain on the electric grid and water supply. Johnson County officials have approved a resolution urging the state legislature to grant counties more authority in land use decisions to ensure responsible development.
Texas is experiencing a significant increase in data center development, particularly in rural areas, leading to concerns among residents about noise, strain on the electric grid, and water supply. Paul Pollack, a long-time water well driller in North Central Texas, shared decades of water well logs, indicating a dramatic drop in aquifer levels in Somerville County, from 22 feet below the surface in 1972 to 212 feet today. He fears that large-scale data centers could exacerbate this issue by pulling more groundwater.
In response to these concerns, the Johnson County Commissioners Court approved a resolution urging the state legislature to pass a law granting counties more authority in land use and development decisions. State Representative Helen Kerwin expressed her support for policies that protect property rights and ensure responsible data center development, stating her intent to write a letter to Governor Greg Abbott requesting a special session to address data centers in Texas.
Mark Hayes, a data center developer, testified that while he supports bringing these facilities to Texas, responsible development requires restrictions and covenants to protect local environments. He suggested that Texas lawmakers should learn from policies in states like Michigan, New York, and Virginia, where counties have zoning overlays for industrial, rural, and residential areas. Hayes emphasized the importance of proactive policymaking to provide transparency for all parties, as Texas is second only to Virginia in the number of current and planned data centers.