Texas landowners fight to block data center developments #datacenter #news #Texas #AI
Landowners in McLennan County, Texas, attempted to use an obscure 2001 law to create an agricultural development district to block data center developments, but county leaders denied their petition, stating the law lacked zoning power. Meanwhile, the state of Texas has paused new data center approvals to audit their impact on the power grid. Residents say they will continue their fight.
Landowners in McLennan County, Texas, are actively fighting to prevent massive data center developments on rural land. In a recent effort, residents petitioned county leaders to establish a first-of-its-kind agricultural development district under Texas Agriculture Code Chapter 60, an obscure law from 2001. They hoped this measure would give them the power to block incoming data centers.
However, county leaders voted against the petition. The McLennan County attorney clarified that Chapter 60 has no actual zoning power and therefore cannot legally prevent data centers from being built. The county judge added that the county cannot block private land sales or control water and electricity, which are often key components for data center operations. Despite this setback, the landowners expressed their intent to continue their fight.
Separately, the state of Texas has intervened by pausing all new data center approvals. This statewide halt is intended to allow for an audit of how these projects impact the Texas power grid, indicating broader concerns about the energy demands of data centers.