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Sam urges temporary moratorium on hyperscale data centers over water, power and land concerns
Summary
At the Freestone County Commissioners Court on May 20, a public commenter identified as Sam urged a temporary moratorium on hyperscale data centers, citing potential large water use, grid stress, heat impacts and threats to farmland; the court moved the topic to the June 17 agenda for further information.
Sam, a public commenter at the Freestone County Commissioners Court on May 20, urged the court to impose a temporary moratorium on new hyperscale data centers until the county can assess long-term impacts on infrastructure, agriculture and communities. "We must not surrender our resources to global corporations," Sam said, urging a pause so lawmakers, regulators, utilities and landowners can craft guardrails.
Sam said a proposed data center by a Wyoming-based firm named Infra Key is planned just north of Waco near Lacey Lakeview and that petitioners opposing the project had gathered nearly 4,000 signatures. He asserted hyperscale data centers can consume on the order of 15 to 16 million gallons of water per day and warned of effects on property values, local infrastructure and summer/winter grid stress. A resident who followed Sam’s remarks supported a moratorium and offered to serve on a study task force, noting that roughly 60 U.S. municipalities have adopted moratoriums on data centers.
County leaders acknowledged the concern and told the speakers the specific site Sam cited will appear on the June 17 agenda for more detailed information and discussion. The presiding officer thanked those who spoke and noted that staff and commissioners will have an opportunity to respond when the item returns to the docket.
Why it matters: Hyperscale data centers can require sizable water and energy inputs and can change land use in rural counties. Commissionership-level decisions about zoning, incentives and infrastructure capacity can shape whether and how such projects proceed. The court’s decision to bring the site back on the June 17 agenda creates a near-term opportunity for residents and officials to test technical claims, hear experts and consider interim protections.
Next steps: The court scheduled further consideration of the specific proposed site for June 17; the transcript contains no technical reports or final determinations on water estimates or incentive terms. The petition and public interest indicate residents expect additional study and formal staff presentations at the next meeting.
