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Residents urge pause on proposed data centers; council schedules town hall
Summary
Multiple residents and a county commissioner told the Cibolo City Council they learned of a planned data center project via social media and raised concerns about water and electric demand, noise, environmental effects and public notice. The council said it will host a public town hall and gather information before pursuing legislation.
Dozens of residents urged the Cibolo City Council on July 14 to halt or more carefully review proposed data center projects they say were announced without adequate public notice.
At the start of the public-comment period, Charlene Spears said she found references to data centers on social media and called them “completely unconstitutional,” warning they would consume large volumes of water and electricity, produce constant noise and harm nearby homes and farms. “Please don't let us build these data centers in Cibolo,” she said.
Valerie Moore, who lives on Lower Seguin, said she likewise learned about the project from a Nextdoor post and cited studies and local anecdotes suggesting electricity and water costs rose near other data centers. “Skyrocketing electrical rates have happened at every single data center that has been built,” she said, adding concerns about diesel generators, noise pollution and effects on agriculture.
Guadalupe County Commissioner Steven German told the council he had twice voted against data centers in county proceedings and demanded transparency from staff. Dr. James Wilcox, who said he had friends in areas with data centers, asked what the city would gain: “What are we getting out of this as a city?” he said, asking about job quality, environmental review and fiscal benefits.
Council members and staff said they had heard the concerns and pledged to respond. Mayor (speaker 1) said staff is organizing a town hall with the city manager’s office to collect public input and to provide factual information about potential legislative options. City staff said they will reach out to TxDOT and other regional partners as appropriate and bring a town-hall plan and technical materials back to council.
The council’s next steps: schedule and publicize a town hall so residents can ask questions and submit input; no ordinance or code change was approved at the July 14 meeting. Council members asked staff to assemble technical briefings (on water and electric demand, noise, zoning and utility access) before the public forum so the community can evaluate trade-offs.
The meeting packet and staff remarks indicated the city will not fund the town-hall event but will host and promote it; staff and council said they expect to share dates and materials soon.
