More Texas communities push back against data centers
San Marcos has banned data centers, and other Texas municipalities, including Fort Worth, are considering similar actions. The Fort Worth City Council is scheduled to vote on a 90-day data center moratorium amid concerns about pollution and utility strain. This comes after Governor Greg Abbott enacted a statewide moratorium for rural areas, which advocates believe does not go far enough.
Texas communities are increasingly pushing back against data center development. San Marcos recently became the first city in the state to ban these facilities, and other municipalities are now exploring similar measures to control their construction.
The Fort Worth City Council is set to vote on August 25 on a proposed 90-day moratorium on data center construction. This comes after the council approved a development for Black Mountain Energy, which claims the data center will bring $30 million in tax revenue and create hundreds of jobs. However, local residents and businesses have raised significant concerns regarding potential pollution and the increased strain on local utilities. Rogelio Meixueiro, a Texas community advocate with GreenLatinos, announced a listening session for residents to discuss these issues and potential mitigation strategies, highlighting the flaws they see in current moratorium proposals.
Earlier in the month, Governor Greg Abbott enacted a statewide moratorium on data centers specifically for rural communities. This policy requires companies to reuse water, work to reduce electricity rates, and avoid disrupting residential neighborhoods. Despite this, Meixueiro criticizes the statewide ban for its limited scope, arguing it exacerbates the divide between rural and urban communities, and fails to adequately address the long-term environmental and societal impacts of data centers.