Bell County, Texas, residents protest data center project at commissioners meeting
Residents of Bell County and Temple, Texas, protested at a Commissioners Court meeting against a proposed data center project. They called for a moratorium, citing concerns about environmental impact, water consumption, lack of local benefits, and tax abatements. The Commissioners Court listened and is seeking state-level intervention.
Residents of Bell County, Texas, gathered at a Commissioners Court meeting to protest a proposed data center project in Temple. More than 30 people spoke out against the project, with many expressing that they had not found anyone in Bell County who supported the data centers, apart from the mayor and city council. Temple resident Laura Lanford voiced concern that the project had moved forward without meaningful community input.
Another resident, Edward Vasquez, highlighted that modern cooling systems should be evaluated based on their actual design and operation, refuting what he termed "misinformation" being spread. Opponents argued that the data center would cause more harm than good, would not offer significant benefits to residents, and that the offered tax abatements were insulting. They specifically requested a moratorium on the project and a pause for independent environmental impact studies, particularly in light of Central Texas being drought-prone, unlike Virginia which was mentioned in contrast for its abundant water resources.
Residents urged the Commissioners Court to assert its authority to potentially override the project. The Commissioners Court reportedly listened intently and a resolution was discussed, requesting the Governor and the Legislature to designate data center matters—including gridlock, reliability, water consumption, local authority, infrastructure impacts, and fiscal implications—as an interim study priority. The resolution also asked the Governor to consider issuing a special session to address these issues at the state level.