AUSTIN, Texas — Civil rights and grassroots groups from across Texas joined forces at the state Capitol Monday to call for a pause and review of water commitments to data centers, warning that the facilities could worsen future water shortages.
The coalition, We the People Texas, announced its formation and made public records about data center water negotiations available to attendees. Members said the records raise questions about how some agreements were made and urged Texans to press local officials for answers.
“We want you to demand greater transparency,” said Gary Bledsoe, president of the Texas NAACP.
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Bledsoe said the coalition believes some agreements offer large amounts of water at discounted rates without enough public discussion. He pointed to concerns involving the Ogallala Aquifer and communities in Hill County.
The coalition includes the Texas NAACP, Save Rural Texas, the Texas Coalition Against Data Centers and Don’t Drain Texas.
Jet Parker, co-founder of Save Rural Texas, said communities need more time to assess the water demands of proposed facilities. She called for data centers to report their water use and for counties to have more authority to set limits.
“This is the people’s water,” Parker said.
Bledsoe said he hopes the coalition will support legislation giving counties more power to address data center development and limiting government agreements that transfer water resources to private entities. He urged residents to attend local meetings and request records about projects proposed near them.
The coalition’s demands come as Texas officials examine data center water use. Last week, the attorney general’s office announced an investigation into developments that had not responded to a state water-use survey. Gov. Greg Abbott has also directed a pause on new permits sought by data center projects while state agencies gather information about their water and power needs. The coalition is seeking a review of water commitments, a separate issue from those permits.
For Phyllis Gant of the Lubbock NAACP, the coalition’s strength is its ability to bring together residents who might disagree on other issues. She described organizing a petition against large data center development in Lubbock. Lubbock’s City Council has started a process to consider a 90-day moratorium on large data centers following residents’ petition effort.
“Organized people beats organized money,” Gant said. “We need water. Whether you’re red or blue, you gotta have water to live.”