(TNS) \u2014 After months of planning amid residents\u2019 concerns, city commissioners are setting a 120-day moratorium on taking applications for data center projects as they study their impacts on the community, its water and energy resources and the environment.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile,\u00a0Cameron County\u00a0Judge Eddie Trevi\u00f1o Jr. said county engineering officials are in \u201cpre-permitting\u201d discussions with two companies interested in developing data center projects within the county.<\/p>\n
Just outside the city limit line near\u00a0Valley International Airport,\u00a0Eneus Energy\u00a0last year proposed development of a 1,785-acre data center project inside\u00a0Cameron County.<\/p>\n
Last September, as part of the proposed project, the Harlingen WaterWorks board entered into an agreement potentially supplying as much as 4.6 million gallons of sewer water a day to run a data center in exchange for as much as $1.2 million a year.<\/p>\n
During Wednesday\u2019s meeting, city commissioners called for an environmental impact study.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe city commission has recently become aware of increasing interest in the siting and development of high-intensity data processing facilities, commonly referred to as data centers, within the city and surrounding region,\u201d the ordinance setting the moratorium states.<\/p>\n
\u201cSuch facilities are characterized by extremely large electrical loads, intensive mechanical cooling systems, large building footprints, specialized infrastructure and long-term development patterns that may significantly affect municipal planning decisions,\u201d the ordinance states. \u201cThe city commission finds that such facilities may impose substantial and unique demands upon municipal infrastructure, including water supply capacity, wastewater systems, electrical coordination, transportation infrastructure and emergency services.\u201d<\/p>\n
During the 120-day moratorium period, city officials are planning \u201ca comprehensive evaluation of the potential impacts\u201d stemming from data centers, the ordinance states.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis review shall include a detailed assessment of the potential demands such facilities may place on municipal infrastructure, including the city\u2019s potable water supply, wastewater collection and treatment systems, electrical service coordination with regional utility providers and other critical public infrastructure necessary to support municipal services and long-term community needs,\u201d the ordinance states.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe city shall also evaluate the land-use compatibility of such facilities, including their building scale, mechanical and electrical infrastructure, noise and operational characteristics and their relationship to surrounding land uses and the city\u2019s adopted comprehensive plan.\u201d<\/p>\n
During the meeting\u2019s public comment period, residents spoke out, calling on commissioners to protect resources such as water and energy.<\/p>\n
\u201cData centers are coming to the state of\u00a0Texas\u00a0in big numbers,\u201d Mayor\u00a0Norma Sepulveda\u00a0said before commissioners cast their vote. \u201cThey\u2019re going to continue to come and there may be an \u2018ask\u2019 at some point to voluntarily annex into the city of\u00a0Harlingen, and we don\u2019t have the zoning for that. Should one want to annex, we can\u2019t say, \u2018Well, hold on, we need six months and figure out what the zoning is going to be.\u2019 We have a responsibility to be prepared.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Commissioner\u00a0Daniel Lopez\u00a0called for an environmental impact study.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want an environment expert to look at this and give us some feedback,\u201d he told commissioners. \u201cI want to make sure we are as well versed in this industry as we can be so that we can make the best educated decisions we can.\u201d<\/p>\n
Commissioner\u00a0Frank Morales\u00a0said he planned to call on commissioners to extend the moratorium, noting the state Legislature\u2019s planning to address the industry\u2019s development next year.<\/p>\n
During discussion, Commissioner\u00a0Michael Mezmar, who cast the lone dissenting vote against setting the moratorium, told commissioners the matter has become Cameron County\u2019s issue, warning the call for a moratorium sends a message the city stands in the way of new industry.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo use a legal term, this whole thing is mute,\u201d he told commissioners. \u201cIt has nothing to do with\u00a0Harlingen. If you got concerns, complaints, take it to the county. By voting for this, we\u2019re sending a message to the world that we, too, are socialists and we hate capitalism and we hate buildings and we hate all of this stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n
Amid discussion, Commissioner\u00a0Rene Perez\u00a0called the setting of the moratorium \u201cresponsible government.\u201d<\/p>\n
Late Wednesday, Trevi\u00f1o said county engineering officials are in discussion with two companies interested in developing data center projects in the county.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt this time,\u00a0Cameron County\u00a0engineering has held preliminary pre-permitting discussions with two data center firms, which is a standard part of the process for many industries exploring potential development opportunities within the county,\u201d Trevi\u00f1o said in a statement. \u201cWhile these conversations indicate there is interest in\u00a0Cameron County\u00a0as a possible location, no formal development timelines have been communicated and no permit applications for data center construction or development have been submitted to the county.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, county officials are \u201cnot willing\u201d to offer tax abatements to companies developing data centers, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe share the public\u2019s concerns regarding data centers, particularly their impact on water usage, energy demand, land consumption and the long-term effects these facilities may have on residents, the environment and the future of Cameron County,\u201d Trevi\u00f1o said. \u201cThe rapid expansion and construction of data centers has significantly outpaced existing legislation and regulatory authority, and we believe it is important to acknowledge that reality.\u201d<\/p>\n
In April, county commissioners passed a resolution calling on the state Legislature to give counties more authority to regulate industries.<\/p>\n
\u201cCameron County is currently one of only a handful of counties in\u00a0Texas\u00a0taking direct action to advocate for stronger local authority in this area,\u201d Trevi\u00f1o said. \u201cThrough this resolution, we not only expressed our concerns but also formally called upon the\u00a0Texas Legislature\u00a0to provide counties with greater ability to regulate and define industries that place substantial demands on local infrastructure and natural resources.\u201d<\/p>\n
Amid growth, officials are protecting the county\u2019s water and energy resources, Trevi\u00f1o said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a rapidly growing county,\u00a0Cameron County\u00a0must ensure that our current and future residents continue to have access to reliable and affordable water and power resources,\u201d he said. \u201cWe remain actively engaged in discussions with community members regarding their concerns about the possibility of data centers locating in\u00a0Cameron County\u00a0and I will continue advocating on behalf of our residents and their long-term interests.\u201d<\/p>\n