Letters: Texas Residents Raise Concerns About Data Center Demands and Call for State Legislation
Residents in North Texas are raising concerns about the transparency and infrastructure demands of data centers, particularly regarding water and electricity consumption. They are calling on the Texas Legislature to require data centers to disclose projected resource use, protect ratepayers from costs, and preserve local authority over land use and environmental concerns.
The Dallas News published letters from residents in North Texas expressing growing concerns about data center development in the region and across the state. Darren Hamilton, a Libertarian candidate from Little Elm, highlighted that communities like Denton are grappling with the immense infrastructure demands of these facilities. Hamilton argued that while data centers bring investment, they should not receive special treatment, and companies should bear the full costs of the infrastructure they require, rather than shifting risks to ratepayers. He called for the Texas Legislature to protect ratepayers, reconsider tax exemptions, and preserve local control over issues like land use, noise, water, and drainage.
A Keller resident also voiced worries about the rapid growth of data centers in North Texas, specifically mentioning a proposed project in Westlake. This resident emphasized a lack of transparency regarding the vast water and electricity consumption of data centers. They asserted that without reliable projections of resource use, municipalities cannot adequately plan for infrastructure upgrades, leaving residents with unanswered questions about who will bear these costs. The resident urged Texas to mandate public, independently verifiable disclosure of projected water and electricity consumption, infrastructure impacts, and financial responsibilities before permits are approved.
Both letters underscored the need for greater transparency, accountability, and a balanced approach to data center development, ensuring that local communities and ratepayers are not unduly burdened by the industry's significant demands. The overarching sentiment was a call for the state to establish reasonable rules and ensure developers "pay their own way."