Texas grapples with data center regulations and local opposition
Fort Worth City Council is discussing new data center regulations. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has issued a directive requiring proposed data centers to undergo an audit for water and power usage impacts. Meanwhile, residents in Keller are opposing a new data center announced in the neighboring city of Westlake, citing concerns about proximity and transparency.
Data centers are a prominent topic in North Texas, with both state and local governments addressing their development. Fort Worth City Council members are set to receive an update on data center regulations and will hold a vote on August 11th regarding new rules.
Simultaneously, Governor Greg Abbott has issued a directive requiring all proposed data centers in Texas to undergo an audit. This audit will measure potential water and power usage before facilities can connect to the state's power grid, aiming to determine impacts on neighboring properties regarding noise, lights, setbacks, and traffic.
In a separate development, residents of Keller are voicing strong opposition to a new data center announced in the neighboring city of Westlake. Kevin Myers, a Keller resident, expressed disbelief upon learning via Facebook that the data center would be built just hundreds of feet from his property line, despite Westlake's assertion that the closest Westlake resident would be nearly a mile away. The City of Westlake stated that the project was discussed openly over a year ago and that there was no opposition from Keller at the time, a claim echoed by the former Mayor of Keller who attended an initial meeting where the concept was presented as a mere possibility.