Angelina County Officials Pledged Early Support for Amp Z Data Center Project
Local and state officials in Lufkin and Angelina County, Texas, provided early support and endorsements for the proposed Amp Z data center project, even before public opposition emerged. The project, located outside Lufkin city limits, has raised concerns about water usage, environmental impacts, and the county's limited regulatory authority. Despite public opposition, some officials continue to support the development for its economic benefits.
Officials in Lufkin and Angelina County, Texas, offered strong, early support for the proposed Amp Z data center at the former Abitibi-Bowater paper mill, even before the project was publicly known or faced community opposition. Developers, including EPG Champion Development's Raine Cotton, secured endorsements from state and local leaders such as State Sen. Robert Nichols, State Rep. Trent Ashby, U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions, Lufkin Mayor Mark Hicks, and Angelina County Judge Keith Wright. These endorsements, some signed on official letterhead, highlighted economic benefits like jobs and tax revenue.
The project, which plans to utilize over 2.1 gigawatts of power and includes an on-site generation facility, faced scrutiny over water usage and environmental impacts, particularly emissions from 12 natural gas turbines permitted to Verdant Industries. The city of Lufkin lacks zoning authority as the site is outside city limits in unincorporated Angelina County, although it controls water infrastructure. Public information requests revealed a coordinated effort to promote the project and a "ChatGPT-assisted" press release to counter early negative reporting.
Campaign finance records show significant contributions from individuals connected to the development, like Eric Estes (Verdant Industries) and Raine Cotton (EPG Champion), to officials who either endorsed the project or were approached for support. Some contributions were later returned after Estes's indictment for murder. Despite a Lufkin Daily News poll showing 79.7% opposition, some officials, including Mayor Hicks and Sen. Nichols, reaffirmed their support, emphasizing the economic opportunity for East Texas. County commissioners later approved a resolution advocating for increased county regulatory authority to address current shortfalls.