More Texas communities push back against data centers
Several Texas communities are moving to restrict data center development, following San Marcos's ban and Governor Abbott's statewide moratorium for rural areas. Fort Worth is scheduled to vote on a 90-day data center moratorium amidst residents' concerns about pollution and strain on local utilities. Advocacy groups like GreenLatinos are organizing listening sessions to address these issues and push for broader regulations.
Texas communities are increasingly pushing back against data center construction, with Fort Worth City Council scheduled to vote on a 90-day moratorium on August 25. This follows San Marcos's earlier decision to ban data centers and Governor Greg Abbott's recently enacted moratorium for rural areas, which requires companies to reuse water and reduce electricity rates.
Rogelio Meixueiro, a Texas community advocate with GreenLatinos, is holding a listening session in Fort Worth to educate residents on potential impacts, as locals voice concerns over pollution and strain on utilities from developments like Black Mountain Energy's proposed data center. Meixueiro criticized the Governor's moratorium for only targeting rural areas, arguing it exacerbates existing divides and does not adequately address the long-term consequences of the industry or the state's reactive approach to regulation.