Taylor residents were expecting the city council to consider a citizen-led ordinance temporarily banning new data centers last week.
Instead, city officials announced the petition could not move forward under Texas law shortly after the meeting began and offered an alternative avenue of involvement.
That decision, posted to the city’s Facebook page, prompted confusion and frustration among residents who questioned the timing and manner of the announcement. “After this meeting started, y’all posted this on Facebook, knowing we were all coming here?” said organizer Sarah Winters. “Shame on y’all.”
“We have heard the concerns raised by members of our community, and I want to be clear that this is a determination about the legal process available to the City, not a judgment on those concerns,” said Mayor Pro Tem Kelly Cmerek. “Texas law does not allow zoning to be enacted or changed by popular vote, so the Council cannot place this measure on the ballot. But the concerns behind the petition are exactly what we are working to address through our Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code. I would encourage everyone who invested time and energy into this petition to stay involved as we develop these new regulations. The input we have received is shaping how we protect our neighborhoods, and we want that work to continue.”
Reportedly, more than 1,400 residents signed the petition submitted to the city last month.
“We’re hungry for leadership that will advocate for us, and we leave hungry every time we’re here,” said Carrie D’Anna, an organizer with the Halt Taylor Data Center Coalition.
Two data center projects are being planned for Taylor. In one case, a deed promised that the site would be used as a park.
While the citizen-led petition could not move forward, the city is planning on amending its Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code “to address not only data centers but all digital infrastructure.”
While a city committee is reviewing the draft and making recommendations, the public can also comment on it through the rest of July.
According to the city’s notice, an ordinance could come before the city council in September for approval.
Taylor residents are not the first to become frustrated with the influx of data centers. Texarkana residents report feeling “betrayed” by those making decisions on data centers; however, cities such as San Marcos are showing that these bans can happen.
Data centers are facing bipartisan pushback as polling has shown Texans are concerned that the energy-intensive projects will strain the power grid and water supply.
Gov. Greg Abbott has recently directed state regulators to ensure Texans are not stuck paying for expensive grid upgrades tied to the rapid expansion of data centers.
He has also stated that data centers should not be built in rural Texas neighborhoods, calling for new limits on data center development in rural communities and directing regulators to ensure such projects pay for their own power, infrastructure, and water and do not raise residential electric bills.
The Public Utility Commission of Texas is expected to reevaluate how costs are passed onto consumers to ensure Texans are not footing the bill for data centers.
Some Texans are calling for a special legislative session to address data center regulations.
