What’s happening in Texas
Texas is experiencing a collision between data center ambitions and grid reality. The state is a top target for hyperscale development — cheap land, business-friendly regulations, proximity to energy infrastructure. But the ERCOT grid is already strained.
Multiple Texas counties have debated or enacted moratoriums. The state government has been broadly supportive of data center development, creating tension with local communities that bear the actual impacts.
Texas does not currently have a statewide moratorium bill, but the number of local-level conflicts is building pressure for state-level action.
Why Texas residents are concerned
The grid. ERCOT failed during Winter Storm Uri in 2021 and has faced near-misses since. Adding gigawatts of always-on data center demand to a fragile grid raises serious safety concerns.
Water. Texas faces chronic water scarcity. Data centers using evaporative cooling can consume millions of gallons per day, competing directly with agricultural and residential needs.
Tax incentives. Texas offers some of the most generous data center tax incentives in the country. Critics argue these transfer wealth from taxpayers to the richest corporations in history while delivering minimal local employment.
How to oppose a data center in Texas
Attend your county commission or city council meetings. Local elected officials control zoning and land use decisions. Public comment periods are your most direct opportunity to voice opposition. Bring specific concerns — water impact, property values, electricity rates, noise — and reference relevant state and local legislation.
Send a formal opposition letter. Written opposition becomes part of the public record and carries significant weight with commissioners. Letters should cite specific concerns, reference relevant statutes, and be addressed to every commissioner by name. We handle this for you →
Organize your neighbors. Join or create a local opposition group. More than 268 community groups across 37 states are actively fighting data center developments. Strength in numbers changes votes.
Engage state legislators. Contact your state representative and senator. Tell them you support regulatory frameworks that protect communities from data center impacts — including moratoriums, ratepayer protections, and environmental review requirements.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a data center moratorium in Texas?
No statewide moratorium as of May 2026, but multiple counties have debated or enacted local moratoriums. The tension between state economic development goals and local resistance defines the Texas fight.
How can I oppose a data center in Texas?
Attend your county commission or city council meetings, submit formal opposition letters to your elected officials, and engage with state-level legislation. More than 268 community groups across 37 states are actively fighting data center developments. We can research your local officials and send a personalized opposition letter on your behalf for you.
How much water does a data center use?
A single hyperscale data center can consume up to 1 million gallons of water per day during peak cooling. AI data centers consumed roughly 17 billion gallons nationally in 2023, projected to reach 68 billion gallons by 2028.
Do data centers lower property values?
Research consistently shows that proximity to industrial infrastructure — including data centers — can negatively impact residential property values. Windowless warehouse-scale buildings, diesel generators, and continuous noise are incompatible with residential neighborhoods.