Keller votes to take legal action against proposed Westlake data center
The Keller City Council voted to take legal action against a proposed 1.1 million-square-foot data center in Westlake, Texas, near its border. This move followed a Tarrant County judge's temporary restraining order against the Town of Westlake, blocking a vote on the project amidst resident concerns over proximity to homes and schools. Developer PowerHouse has agreed to comply with state audit requirements, though specific proximity guidelines remain a point of clarification for local leaders.
The Keller City Council unanimously voted on August 18 to initiate legal action against a proposed 1.1 million-square-foot data center in Westlake, Texas, citing concerns over process transparency and the project's impact on Keller residents. Mayor Ross McMullin stated that the council's decision was not taken lightly, emphasizing multiple attempts to engage with Westlake regarding the development. McMullin expressed serious concerns that Westlake's "process and procedures" might not have adhered to the "spirit and letter of applicable law" in connection with the proposed data center.
This action by Keller occurred just one day after a Tarrant County judge issued a temporary restraining order on the Town of Westlake. This order specifically blocked Westlake from proceeding with a vote on the highly-opposed "Circle T" data center, which is planned near Keller's Marshall Ridge neighborhood. The lawsuit leading to the restraining order was filed by the Marshall Ridge neighborhood's HOA and two Westlake residents, highlighting strong community opposition, particularly due to the data center's proximity to Ridgeview Elementary School in the Keller ISD.
In a related development, Governor Greg Abbott's office announced on August 18 that PowerHouse, the data center's developer, had agreed to comply with the state's audit requirements for such facilities. Governor Abbott reiterated his established "clear guardrails" aimed at ensuring data centers protect the electric grid, conserve water, respect neighborhoods, and avoid passing costs to Texas families. However, both Mayor McMullin of Keller and Mayor Kim Greaves of Westlake expressed a need for further clarification from the Governor's office regarding what "respecting neighborhoods" specifically entails, particularly concerning concrete distance requirements for data centers from residential areas. Mayor Greaves described the situation as "terrible" and sought the governor's help in navigating the complex issue.