Missouri City, Texas, Adopts New Zoning Regulations for Data Centers
Missouri City, a Houston-area suburb, passed new zoning regulations requiring data centers to disclose potential energy and water usage before receiving building permits. The proactive measure aims to prepare the city for future data center development while addressing concerns about environmental impact and strain on the electric grid. Public hearings will be required for any new data center proposals.
Missouri City, a growing Houston suburb in Fort Bend County, Texas, is proactively addressing potential data center development despite currently having none within its limits. The City Council recently passed new zoning regulations for industrial businesses.
These regulations specifically require any newly proposed data centers to disclose their potential energy and water usage before a building permit can be approved. Jennifer Thomas Gomez, Development Services Director, stated that while the amendment doesn't prohibit data centers, it allows the city to establish standards for their appropriate location and protect utilities and design.
Concerns about the impact of data centers on Texas's electric grid and natural resources, particularly water consumption, were highlighted by the nonprofit Houston Advanced Research Center and the Fort Bend County Environmental Organization. While Dan Diorio from the Data Center Coalition emphasized data centers' economic benefits and efficiency claims, University of Houston professor Harish Krishnamoorthy noted hyper-scale data centers could demand millions of gallons of water daily.
A University of Houston survey found Houstonians generally oppose data centers due to energy demand concerns but support AI usage. The new Missouri City zoning ensures public hearings, involving both the city council and planning and zoning commission, will consider a data center's effects on traffic, noise, and the environment before special use permits are granted.