McLennan County Rejects Petition to Protect Farmland from Data Centers
McLennan County commissioners have denied a petition from the Texas Coalition Against Data Centers aimed at establishing an agricultural development district to protect farmland from data center development. Community members supported the plan, but the county attorney advised against it due to a lack of clarity. Advocates plan to revise and resubmit the petition, continuing their efforts in Waco.
McLennan County Commissioners have rejected a petition from the Texas Coalition Against Data Centers that sought to create a first-of-its-kind agricultural development district. The proposal aimed to zone specific areas exclusively for agricultural use, thereby preventing data center construction on farmland.
The decision came after a public hearing where community members advocated for the plan. However, the county attorney advised commissioners that the petition lacked sufficient specificity and clarity regarding its goals, stating that an "a-zone" was not the appropriate legal mechanism to deter data centers.
Despite the setback, advocates from the Texas Coalition Against Data Centers have stated their intent to continue the fight. They plan to make revisions to the petition and resubmit it for approval in Waco, emphasizing that their efforts to protect farmland are ongoing.