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Harlingen commission imposes temporary moratorium on high‑intensity data centers after public outcry over water contract
Summary
After hours of public comment raising concerns about water use, land‑use compatibility and transparency, the Harlingen City Commission unanimously adopted a temporary moratorium on high‑intensity data processing facilities and directed staff to circulate the Harlingen Water Works contract and legal analyses.
The Harlingen City Commission voted unanimously to adopt a temporary moratorium on the acceptance, processing and approval of applications for high‑intensity data processing facilities in the city and its extraterritorial jurisdiction, citing public‑necessity findings about infrastructure capacity, water supply and land‑use compatibility.
The action followed an extended public hearing in which multiple speakers urged the commission to step in. "This agreement states Harlingen Waterworks will provide drinking water if effluent water is not available — 4.6 million gallons per day of potable water," said Luis Valdespino of District 3, who asked the commission to exercise oversight of a contract he said was signed last September. "That should not be in any agreement."
Isaac Newman, speaking for the For the People Alliance, urged a full environmental review and flagged potential aviation and public‑safety concerns tied to construction, power transmission and site lighting near Harlingen's airport. "Backup generators, fuel storage, battery systems and industrial cooling chemicals increase response complexity," Newman said.
Commissioners said they had heard public concern and asked staff to distribute the Harlingen Water Works contract to the full commission and to provide a legal opinion. One commissioner also asked staff to bring the San Marcos ordinance, which recently enacted a ban on certain data centers, so the commission could study legal approaches and pending challenges.
Mayor Norma Leticia Palacios Vela called for careful review of infrastructure implications, and staff confirmed the ordinance was crafted to pause new applications for a limited duration while the city reviews water, electric demand and land‑use compatibility. The commission instructed staff to return with the requested contract, relevant ordinances from peer cities and a memo from the city attorney.
The moratorium vote was recorded as unanimous. The commission did not adopt final substantive land‑use regulations at the meeting; instead it imposed the temporary pause to allow time for analysis and public review.
