District 45 state Rep. Erin Zwiener announced a Hays County working group tasked with addressing concerns surrounding data centers, water use and the authority of cities and counties to respond to related challenges.
At a glance
The group will discuss how governing bodies can respond to data center development in Hays County and how officials may strengthen local authority through policy solutions, according to a news release from Zwiener.
“Data centers are posing a new challenge for communities across Texas, and Hays County really has an opportunity to lead because of the experience we have dealing with all of the pressures that intersect when you deal with the data center,” Zwiener said.
The working group will receive presentations from experts in various groups pertaining to data centers. Potential speakers include experts on water, the electric grid, data centers and local control.
“I hope our work will produce useful materials for counties that are facing data centers, cities and my colleagues in the state Legislature who are looking for ideas on how to respond to these,” Zwiener said.
Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra tabled an agenda item at a Feb. 24 meeting that would have instituted a moratorium on the issuance of new development permits for projects that utilize an immense amount of water, such as data centers.
Questions from the commissioners regarding the county’s legal authority to issue a development moratorium resulted in the lack of vote on the issue.
“Our counties and our cities have very few tools to address these [data centers] if they’re not within the city limits,” Zwiener said. “I’m hoping the group can play an educational role and brainstorm how the law could be changed so that communities have a voice in this type of industrial development.”
Zwiener’s working group was developed in partnership with Hays County Commissioners Debbie Ingalsbe, Precinct 1, and Morgan Hammer, Precinct 3. Additional officials and water authority representatives were invited to participate, including:
Amanda Rodriguez, city of San Marcos council member, Place 6Zane Porterfield Liston, Wimberley Watershed AssociationVanessa Puig-Williams, Barton Springs-Edwards Aquifer Conservation DistrictVirginia Parker, San Marcos River FoundationAndrew Weber, Trinity Edwards Springs Protection AssociationGarrett Allen, Wimberley Water SupplyThe group features representatives from the community, local nonprofit organizations and subject matter experts from various parts of the state as well, Zwiener said.
Diving deeper
On Feb. 17, the San Marcos City Council voted to deny a Preferred Scenario Map amendment for approximately 200 acres of land that would have allowed for the development of a data center.
Over 100 residents spoke on the proposed data center project, many voicing concerns related to the development’s potential water consumption.
“What I think makes Hays County unique is that we have a lot of expertise trying to address these issues head-on,” Zwiener said. “I think we’re a little more resourced to lead in this conversation.”