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Johnson County court urges statewide guardrails on data centers after lengthy public debate
Summary
After hours of public comment, Johnson County Commissioners Court unanimously approved a nonbinding resolution asking the Texas Legislature to require transparent reporting, independent impact studies and limits on water‑intensive cooling systems for large data centers.
Johnson County Commissioners Court on April 13 unanimously adopted a nonbinding resolution asking the Texas Legislature and state agencies to adopt enforceable safeguards for large data‑center projects, including requirements for transparent reporting of projected electricity demand and water usage and independent impact analyses of grid and water supply implications.
Supporters of the resolution emphasized the need for local clarity before hyperscale facilities are sited. Mark Hayes, a data‑center contractor who said he has built facilities nationwide, urged the court to adopt standards that both attract investment and limit environmental impacts: "We need to get ahead of it when it comes to rules, regulations, and covenants so that it's built correctly," he…
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