Residents demand transparency, moratorium as possible data‑center deal draws scrutiny

Public speakers at the Harlingen City Commission meeting on Dec. 3 urged city leaders to disclose details and pause negotiations related to a potential data‑center development that residents say has been discussed privately by the local economic‑development corporation.

Isaac Newton, who identified himself as co‑founder of the For the People Alliance District Three, said the Harlingen Economic Development Corporation has met “without the full board commissioners to discuss these data centers,” and alleged representatives had signed nondisclosure agreements that kept the public and some commissioners from seeing key details. Newton said a company called Enos Energy is pursuing nearly 2,000 acres with a reported power capacity of about 2 gigawatts and that the city has discussed a water commitment of 4.6 million gallons per day for the project. “There’s significant public speculation that Project Organic…is the codename for the data center,” he said, and asked the commission to consider a moratorium that would last beyond Enos Energy’s land‑option expiration in July 2026.

Don Ray Leonard, a resident who spoke during the public‑comment period, took aim at the city’s recent handling of airport matters and linked that broader concern about governance to the data‑center talks. “Norma, your appetite for control and sowing chaos with every organization in this city is appalling,” Leonard said, accusing officials of lack of transparency in recent economic‑development activity.

Other residents voiced environmental and quality‑of‑life concerns. Nayeli Salas warned that large data centers’ water and energy demands could have “permanent consequences for residents and our future,” and said many Harlingen residents oppose such facilities. Speakers asked the commission to adopt ordinances that would govern water and energy commitments and to update public‑engagement policies so site visits and staff briefings are shared with all commissioners at the same time.

City staff did not present a detailed proposal at the meeting and no formal action on a data‑center ordinance was taken. The commission later recessed into an executive session to discuss possible economic‑development opportunities and related legal issues under state law. Commissioners did not vote on a moratorium at the meeting.

What’s next: Citizens asked for a public report on any EDC meetings, the scope of any proposed water or power commitments, and for the commission to bring future site visits and project updates onto public agendas rather than discussing them in private sessions. The commission’s executive session announcement said members would discuss economic‑development negotiations and consult with the city attorney but did not list a decision deadline.