Darby Reacts to Dove Creek Data Center TCEQ Permit App
State Rep. Drew Darby has formally intervened in the proposed Beacon Data Centers project in Tom Green County, Texas, following widespread constituent opposition. He requested a public meeting from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality on Beacon's air quality permits and sent a detailed letter to the company demanding answers on emissions, water use, and economic impacts. Residents have concerns about air, water, noise, traffic, and the overall scale of the project.
State Rep. Drew Darby (R-San Angelo) formally intervened in the proposed Beacon Data Centers project in southern Tom Green County, Texas, citing widespread constituent opposition and a lack of transparency from the company. After meeting with residents in the Dove Creek area, Darby requested that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) hold a local public meeting on Beacon's pending air quality permits for its Westline Energy Infrastructure Campus project. He also sent a detailed letter to Beacon executives, including CEO David Lane, demanding answers on emissions, water use, economic benefits, and other potential impacts.
Darby's intervention comes after months of resident opposition over concerns about potential air emissions, water usage, noise, traffic, and the overall scale of the project. The proposed campus plans to use on-site natural-gas reciprocating engines, with air permit applications indicating significant annual emissions of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxide. Darby emphasized that local community concerns must take precedence in large-scale developments and that residents deserve full transparency.
In his letter to Beacon, Darby referenced Governor Greg Abbott's directives for data centers, which include paying for their own electric infrastructure, reusing water, reducing electricity costs for Texans, avoiding residential disruption, and eliminating reliance on taxpayer incentives. He asked Beacon to publicly commit to these standards, release campus renderings, and hold additional public town halls. Darby stressed that community support is crucial in rural West Texas developments.