Bastrop County residents organize for data center transparency, local guardrails
Residents in Bastrop County, Texas, are organizing to demand greater transparency and local regulations for data center developments, with over 5,500 acres currently tied to planned or potential projects. Three major developers, EdgeConneX, Pacifico Energy, and Amazon Data Services, have plans in the Cedar Creek area. Concerns focus on environmental impact, water and electricity demands, and tax abatements, leading to calls for a statewide moratorium and local 'Bill of Rights'.
Bastrop County residents are actively organizing to press for greater transparency and local oversight concerning data center developments, particularly in the Cedar Creek area where over 5,500 acres are designated for planned or potential projects. A recent town hall in Bastrop, co-sponsored by various political clubs, saw more than 100 attendees voice concerns.
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, a guest speaker, advocated for a one-year statewide moratorium on new data center projects to allow time for the development of comprehensive regulations, citing that current growth is outpacing state oversight. Local attorney Nick Lealos proposed a "Bastrop Bill of Rights," urging county officials to mandate disclosure of water and power demands, publish tax abatement records online, establish a citizen advisory committee, and pause new data center tax abatements while local standards are developed, referencing Hays County's recent pause on high-water-use industrial projects as a model.
Several companies are active or considering projects in the region. EdgeConneX is planning three Cedar Creek campuses on nearly 1,500 acres, with its first building almost complete and having received a 10-year, 75% county property tax abatement in 2024. Pacifico Energy is exploring a 2,842-acre campus that would include a hyperscale data center and 710 megawatts of natural gas-fired generation, with tax abatement and mass-grading permit applications currently under review. Amazon Data Services confirmed the purchase of 1,229 acres but has not finalized development plans.
Residents, including Merrie Santana, expressed concerns about the lack of public studies on air quality, groundwater, and noise impacts, arguing the current location is unsuitable for such large-scale developments. Organizers are urging residents to attend an upcoming July 27 Bastrop County Commissioners Court meeting, where a public hearing on proposed tax-abatement guidelines will address environmental effects, waste disposal, and local job creation requirements for companies seeking abatements.