Texas lawmaker creates data center 'working group' for Hays County

State Representative Erin Zwiener (D-Driftwood) announced the formation of a bipartisan working group to address the growing concerns surrounding data center developments, specifically in Hays County, Texas. This initiative comes in response to constant feedback from constituents across the state, including in Hays, Hood, and El Paso counties, regarding the impact of these facilities. The primary issues the working group will examine include water availability, local authority over growth and development, and the strain on electricity resources. Hays County, being the second fastest-growing county in the nation, has experienced significant challenges with transportation, public safety, and especially water. Representative Zwiener emphasized that a large data center can consume up to 500,000 gallons of water daily, a resource Hays County already lacks. The group's objectives are twofold: to identify existing tools that local entities, such as special utility districts and counties, can utilize to manage data center growth, and to develop policy proposals for the state legislature's next session if current tools are insufficient. Zwiener highlighted that changes to annexation laws since 2017 have reduced local communities' voices in development decisions. The discussion is framed around "how and where" data centers are built, rather than "whether" they are built at all, aiming for smart growth that conserves resources. The working group includes elected county leaders and members of local water associations, and is designed to be bipartisan, acknowledging that data center concerns transcend political affiliation, focusing on community impact, water, noise, and electricity prices. The group plans to hold 4 to 6 meetings within the year, with the first expected within the next month, to develop actionable items.