Central Texas residents are raising concerns once again about a data center set for a small town outside of Austin. Residents of Taylor are pushing the city to adopt new regulations before officials consider annexing land for a 665-acre data center and natural-gas power project.
The issue has already produced a 1,400-signature petition and a potential court challenge as residents argue Taylor’s existing development rules aren’t equipped for projects of this scale.
The Halt Taylor Data Center Coalition held a press conference on Tuesday, August 25, protesting the proposed site.
The press conference comes two days before the City of Taylor City Council is expected to meet to consider annexation of land for the data center next month. The presser was also held the same day as City of Austin council members announced their intent to ban large scale data centers in the city.
While some Austin City Council members aim to begin the process of creating an ordinance to regulate large data centers in the city, Taylor residents are hoping to stop a large scale data center from being built in the small town about 36 miles north of Austin. Formerly called Project Mustang, the new plant is being developed by Big Watt Digital LLC and PH Digital Data Center Development LLC.
In August, the governor directed the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT to conduct a comprehensive verification and audit of all data centers advancing through ERCOT’s interconnection process. The data center project site is expected to use 1,050 megawatts to 1,400 megawatt capacity with 84 to 112 natural gas reciprocating engines at 12.5 megawatts each.
Halt Taylor Data Centers and Taylor residents are demanding city council to direct city staff to create a Digital Infrastructure Zoning District to prepare the city for the development. The coalition created a petition to remove data centers from Taylor’s land development code until a district is made.
“We must adopt clear regulations that protect our citizens, resources, and quality of life before any more large-scale industrial projects are considered,” said Taylor resident, Sarah Winters during the press conference.
Despite the petition garnering, 1,400 signatures, Halt Taylor Data Centers said Taylor City Council, “took no action violating the city charter.” Taylor residents have also filed a writ mandamus in a Texas appeals court, in hopes that the board could direct the city council to put the petition ordinance on the ballot.
“Taylor is now in a situation where they must decide to annex the data center and natural gas plant without adequate zoning guidelines or refuse annexation and the project will be built in the county with little to no guidelines while residents 200 feet from the project bear the burden,” Halt Taylor Data Centers wrote in a release.
At last week’s meeting, the city noted 23 notices were sent out to adjacent property owners within 200 feet of the property. City staff also stated they received zero responses in opposition from the notified parties.
Taylor City Council is expected to vote on the annexation of the land for the data center at a September 10 meeting.