Inside Amazon's nearly 3,000-acre data center project outside of Houston
A large Amazon data center, known as Project Eagle, is being developed on nearly 3,000 acres in unincorporated Wharton County, Texas. The $10 billion project faces significant community opposition over its potential strain on water and electricity resources, as well as concerns about transparency. Local residents and county officials are actively engaged in discussions and negotiations regarding the project's environmental and social impacts.
Amazon is constructing a nearly 3,000-acre, $10 billion data center campus, dubbed "Project Eagle," in unincorporated Wharton County, Texas, approximately 55 miles southwest of Houston. The project, located near the small town of Boling, is one of the largest data center developments in the region and is intended to support the artificial intelligence industry. Amazon Web Services is leading the development, which has already received conditional development permits for construction preparation, though a final binding agreement with the county is still being negotiated.
The expansive project has sparked considerable opposition from local residents and community organizers, including goat farmer David Rodriguez. Concerns center on the data center's substantial demands for water and electricity, with projections suggesting it could consume enough untreated water annually to fill nearly 250 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Residents also fear potential impacts on air quality, property values, and their rural way of life, highlighting a perceived lack of transparency from Amazon and county officials, including a non-disclosure agreement signed by Wharton County Judge Philip Spenrath with a consulting firm involved in the project.
Wharton County officials, including County Attorney Trey Maffet, are balancing the promise of multi-billion-dollar investment and hundreds of new jobs against these community concerns. Maffet stated that no binding agreement has been finalized and would require significant commitments from Amazon to protect the community from various forms of pollution, minimize groundwater use, and address flooding impacts. Meanwhile, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has directed state agencies to audit proposed data center projects across the state, signaling growing governmental scrutiny of the industry's rapid expansion. Amazon has indicated plans to use energy- and water-efficient technologies and fund water replenishment projects, along with hosting community engagement events to address resident questions.