Texas Rep. Drew Darby Urges Beacon Data Centers to Abandon Tom Green County Project
State Rep. Drew Darby urged Beacon Data Centers to withdraw its pending permit applications and abandon the proposed Dove Creek data center in Tom Green County. Darby cited the company’s lack of public engagement and alleged noncompliance with state data-center requirements, while state permitting is paused pending ERCOT and water-board audits.
State Rep. Drew Darby sent Beacon Data Centers a second letter demanding that the company withdraw permit applications for its proposed Westline data center near San Angelo and abandon plans to build in Tom Green County. Darby said Beacon had failed to answer substantive questions or hold additional public meetings since an April gathering, and he criticized what he described as a lack of transparency.
The project would be located near FM 2335 and Spring Creek, south of U.S. 67. Beacon has told county commissioners it would generate power with natural-gas engines and use the electric grid as backup, but its air permits have not been approved. Gov. Greg Abbott has directed the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to pause data-center permitting until audits by ERCOT and the state water board are completed; Darby said he will oppose each permit and plans to introduce legislation targeting companies he considers bad actors.