San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones wants tougher oversight of data centers
San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones is seeking stricter oversight of data centers, including requiring City Council approval for each facility. The City Council is set to consider competing regulatory approaches amid an upcoming protest and concerns about energy, water use, public health and neighborhood impacts.
San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones is urging the City Council to adopt tougher data center regulations as the city faces more than 40 proposed facilities in addition to the 30-plus already operating. Her proposal would require case-by-case council approval, while a Zoning Commission recommendation would allow projects that meet specified requirements, including location limits and approvals from CPS Energy and the San Antonio Water System for electrical and water use.
Jones said existing guidelines do not adequately protect neighborhoods, citing a Bexar County data center located near a pool and playground and raising concerns about diesel generators, property values and public health. Some council members have expressed tentative support, while critics have called her proposal overly restrictive. A protest is planned before the council’s scheduled meeting on the regulations.