Air quality and representation fears rise with Taylor's data center
The Taylor City Council approved a development agreement that could enable a 664-acre data center campus near Taylor, although the property has not yet been annexed into the city. Nearby residents, who would remain outside city limits and unable to vote in Taylor elections, are concerned about air quality, noise, water use and natural-gas power generation.
Taylor City Council approved a development agreement for a proposed 664-acre data center campus just outside the city. The project could include on-site natural-gas electricity generation, and the agreement establishes provisions involving water, wastewater, noise and air-quality monitoring for the generators.
Neighbors such as Connie Zika, whose home is across from the proposed campus, say they fear losing quiet and scenic aspects of their property and are particularly concerned about emissions and whether children will be able to play outdoors. The land has not yet been annexed, and residents who would remain outside Taylor would be able to address the council but could not vote for its members. Taylor officials say the agreement gives the city greater authority to regulate the project, while Williamson County says it lacks authority to zone or prohibit data centers and cannot control Taylor's annexation process.