Lubbock group submits petition seeking moratorium on AI data centers
An advocacy group in Lubbock, Texas, submitted a petition requesting an 18-month moratorium on large artificial intelligence data centers within city limits. The petition, with over 3,000 signatures, will be verified and then presented to the city council, potentially going to a public vote if rejected by the council.
An advocacy group named "Citizens of Lubbock Against Data Centers," also known as "Save Lubbock," delivered a petition to the Lubbock city secretary's office on Monday, advocating for an 18-month moratorium on large artificial intelligence data centers within city limits.
Organizer Stephen Sanders stated that the group collected over 3,000 signatures, exceeding the required 2,410. Sanders emphasized that the initiative is driven by a desire for transparency and civic accountability in local government, criticizing prior city efforts for public feedback as disingenuous. He noted the unusual political unity across party lines for this cause.
Lubbock Mayor Mark McBrayer was present during the petition submission and acknowledged the city's obligation to follow the political process. The city secretary is now tasked with verifying the signatures against registered voter rolls. If validated in time, the measure is slated for the city council's next regular meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 11.
Should the city council vote against the measure, it could then be placed before voters in a general election, potentially in November. Mayor McBrayer indicated that the specific election date would depend on the time required to agree upon the ballot language. Sanders indicated the group is already preparing to encourage voter turnout.