Data Centers Are Skewing Political Party Lines in Texas
Data centers have become a major political issue in Texas, drawing bipartisan opposition over water consumption, electricity demand, environmental impacts and threats to private property. San Marcos residents successfully stopped a planned $1.5 billion project, while Gov. Greg Abbott issued a moratorium on data center-related permits and ordered state reviews of their water and power needs.
Data center development is reshaping Texas politics as rural landowners and residents from both parties protest projects over water use, noise, light pollution, landscape changes and the construction of high-voltage transmission lines. Concerns have surfaced in communities including San Marcos, Taylor, Red Oak, Tarrant County and Burnet County.
In San Marcos, residents including Hays County landowner Abigail Lindsey opposed a planned data center led by developer John Mayberry that was expected to consume 25 million gallons of water annually. Community opposition helped persuade the city to become the first in Texas to ban data centers within its limits, ending the proposed $1.5 billion project. Taylor residents are separately challenging plans for a data center on land originally intended to become a public park.
Gov. Greg Abbott responded to the statewide backlash by issuing a moratorium on data center-related permits and directing the Public Utility Commission of Texas and ERCOT to audit facilities' water and electricity needs. The issue has also prompted unusual political alliances, including Republican Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller appearing with Democratic challenger Clayton Tucker at a forum hosted by Matagorda County Against Data Centers.