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Residents urge Atascosa County to pause data-center development over water concerns
Summary
Two Poteet-area residents told the Atascosa County Commissioners Court they are worried planned data centers will strain local water supplies and raise energy costs and asked the court to seek a moratorium and press state lawmakers for regulatory authority.
Two residents used the court’s public-comment period on June 22 to urge Atascosa County officials to slow or block large data-center construction pending clearer state authority and water-supply analysis.
Nick Bosquez, introduced from Poteet, said regional water-level projections from the Nueces River Authority suggest shortages by 2032 and urged commissioners to act to prevent large data centers from accelerating depletion. Bosquez said attendees at recent conferences were told federal assistance is unlikely and that local governments will bear responsibility for managing water and energy impacts.
Oscar Corres, speaking for Atascosa Residents Against Data Centers, told the court that while county powers are limited by state law, commissioners should serve as liaisons to residents, advocate locally, consider a building moratorium for potential data centers until 2027 state legislation is completed, draft a resolution in support of state legislation that would give counties regulatory tools, and refrain from signing nondisclosure agreements that would impede their duty to constituents. Corres acknowledged limits on county authority but asked the court to take visible steps to represent residents’ concerns to state lawmakers.
No formal action or vote was taken during the public-comment item. Commissioners acknowledged the remarks; subsequent agenda items moved forward.
The callers used the public-comment forum to request county involvement in a statewide policy discussion and to press local officials for procedural steps (moratorium and a resolution) to influence state-level outcomes. Commissioners did not adopt any moratorium or resolution at the session.
