Harlingen residents urge moratorium on proposed AI data centers, citing water, power and transparency concerns
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Summary
Multiple residents told the Harlingen City Commission they oppose AI data centers — naming Ennis Energy — over worries about water and electricity demand, noise, air pollution and nondisclosure agreements that limit public information. Speakers asked the city to consider a moratorium and stronger public engagement.
Hundreds of residents and community advocates told the Harlingen City Commission they are concerned about proposed AI data centers and urged elected officials to halt further consideration until more information is public.
At the meeting, several speakers cited limited local water and power resources and raised public-health and quality-of-life worries. Isaac Newman, co-founder of the For the People Alliance and former city employee, said transparency is lacking and asked the commission to stop discussing data centers until an "extensive amount of evidence" shows net benefits. "We do not want AI data centers proposed or addressed or discussed unless there is an extensive amount of evidence that shows that there is a lot to gain," Newman said.
Multiple commenters named Ennis Energy as a company involved in proposed projects. Angela Valdispino said Ennis Energy holds a purchase-option contract that runs to July 3, 2026, and asked why the commission would not enact a six-month moratorium now. "When publicly elected officials sign an NDA, they no longer represent the residents of their city," she said, citing nondisclosure agreements the company provided. Alexis Bey told commissioners that data centers in other cities have used NDAs to restrict public information and that many such facilities bring only a small number of technician jobs.
Residents described broader regional concerns: Joshua Morales said water and air quality in the Rio Grande Valley are already strained and that data centers' large water and energy draws could worsen affordability and public-health outcomes for children and low-income families. Raymond Reyes, an IT professional with decades of experience, told the commission the region lacks sufficient water and power to support such large facilities.
City officials did not announce a moratorium at the meeting. Several speakers urged more public outreach and town halls to ensure two-way communication. "The city has a unique opportunity to signal to its sibling cities that the RGV will not further endanger its water supply and fragile power grid to AI companies who only care about a bottom line," Bey said.
What happens next: Commenters asked the commission to pause negotiations, avoid NDAs that limit disclosure, and pursue broader community engagement. No binding action on a moratorium was passed during the meeting; commissioners acknowledged the concerns and discussed ongoing staff work to gather more information.
