Gov. Abbott says Westlake data center developer complies with audit guidelines
A temporary restraining order has halted a vote by the Town of Westlake on the proposed Circle T data center following a lawsuit by local residents over inadequate public notice. Meanwhile, Governor Abbott announced that Power House, the data center's developer, along with CoreWeave and Emergent Data Centers, has complied with state audit requirements aimed at protecting the electric grid, conserving water, and respecting neighborhoods.
A Tarrant County judge issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) to prevent the Town of Westlake from voting on the Circle T data center project, which is highly opposed by residents near the Keller border. The TRO stems from a lawsuit filed by the Lakes at Marshall Ridge Homeowners Association, Linda Bjorn, and Sharon Sanden, who claim Westlake failed to provide proper public notice for planning and zoning actions related to the data center in December 2024 and January 2025.
Simultaneously, Governor Abbott's office confirmed that Power House, the developer of the Westlake data center, has agreed to comply with state audit requirements. These requirements, ordered by Abbott on August 13, mandate data centers to provide information to the Public Utilities Commission of Texas (PUCT) and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) to ensure grid stability, water conservation, community respect, and cost protection for Texans. CoreWeave and Emergent Data Centers also reportedly complied, while one other data center pulled out of its plans due to these new directives.
Douglas Fleit, co-founder and CEO of Power House Data Centers, expressed support for the review, stating it would confirm best practices and protect Texans by applying rigorous standards across the industry. Residents of Marshall Ridge are concerned about the data center's potential impact on health, property values, and quality of life. The City of Keller has also engaged legal counsel to review its options. A hearing for the lawsuit is scheduled for August 26.