San Antonio councilmembers call for moratorium on new data centers
San Antonio City Council members are proposing a temporary moratorium on new data center developments to address concerns about their impact on local resources and communities. There's a call for utilizing clean energy and recycled water, and for state legislators to address data center matters statewide.
Three San Antonio City Council members are advocating for a temporary moratorium on new data center development applications across the city. This initiative arises amid broader inquiries into the potential strain these large facilities could place on local communities and resources, as the state of Texas evaluates its engagement with the rapidly expanding data center industry.
During discussions, concerns were raised regarding "crypto miners" and the need for a development pause. Council members specifically urged CVS Energy and the San Antonio Water System to formulate a plan mandating that all new data centers utilize clean energy and recycled water for their operations within the city.
Furthermore, there was a direct appeal to Governor Abbott to convene a special legislative session in Austin. The sole purpose of this session would be to address issues related to data centers across the entire state of Texas.