Can local officials stop data centers in Texas?

Data centers are rapidly proliferating across Texas, raising concerns among local officials and residents about their water and energy use. While data centers promise jobs and tax revenue, the long-term employment outlook is uncertain. Local governments have limited tools to regulate data centers, but can impose conditions through tax abatement agreements. State leaders have taken steps to oversee the industry, but political pressure is mounting for more oversight and local control. Some officials are proposing measures like designating "agricultural freedom zones" to steer data centers away from farmland.