Politically diverse coalition launches to push back against Texas data center development
A diverse coalition named We the People Texas has formed to oppose data center development across Texas, citing concerns over water consumption and environmental impact. The group is demanding increased transparency and an immediate halt to new projects. This push aligns with, yet also critically scrutinizes, Governor Greg Abbott's recent call for a temporary pause on data center air permits.
A new, politically diverse coalition called We the People Texas has officially launched its efforts to push back against the proliferation of data centers across the state. Comprising civil rights leaders, environmentalists, and rural advocates, the group announced its formation at the state Capitol building in Austin on Monday. At the kickoff event, the coalition revealed public records that reportedly expose previously unreported data center developments involving publicly owned water resources.
The coalition, which includes the Texas NAACP, Save Rural Texas, Public Citizen, and the Texas Coalition Against Data Centers, among others, emphasized water as a critical issue affecting all Texans. Texas NAACP President Gary Bledsoe expressed significant concern over what he perceives as a growing disparity between the state's long-term water outlook and the increasing number of data centers. Jet Parker, co-founder of Save Rural Texas, highlighted the impact on rural communities, stating that large-scale developments are taking over prairieland and diminishing water supplies, destroying ranches and farms with "industrial clutter."
We the People Texas is advocating for greater transparency regarding water consumption by data centers and enhanced oversight before any more projects proceed. A key demand from the coalition's members is an immediate pause and comprehensive review of water commitments tied to all future data center developments.
Their activism coincides with a recent move by Governor Greg Abbott, who called for a temporary pause on issuing data center air permits through the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) while ERCOT and the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) conduct an audit of these facilities, including their water usage. However, some activists view the Governor's action with suspicion, suggesting it may be politically motivated. Phyllis Gant of the Lubbock NAACP spoke at the launch, sharing her local efforts to slow a proposed data center in the Texas Panhandle and encouraging community-level involvement.