Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
State representative urges pause on hyperscale data-center approvals, cites rural impacts
Summary
State Representative Helen Kerwin told the Johnson County Commissioners Court that hyperscale data-center growth in Texas has accelerated and urged a pause to study water, power and local-control impacts for rural counties; she said she wrote the governor requesting action to allow guideline development before additional approvals.
State Representative Helen Kerwin (House District 58) used the court's public-participation slot on March 9 to warn local officials about rapid expansion of hyperscale data centers across Texas and to seek county support for a statewide pause to allow study and rulemaking. "Over the weekend, I wrote a letter to the governor asking for immediate an immediate either an executive order or a committee or whatever he can do, where we can pause these until we get appropriate studies done," Kerwin said.
Kerwin said the number of data centers in Texas has grown from dozens to hundreds in recent years and that she is particularly concerned about impacts in rural counties, including potential strains on water and electric systems and limits on local discretion over siting and infrastructure. Commissioners acknowledged the issue and flagged concerns about local providers and grid capacity; one commissioner noted the need for facts rather than fears and encouraged coordination with local cooperatives and utilities.
Kerwin also announced her district office will move from Cleburne to Joshua to improve constituent access across House District 58. The comments were delivered during the public-announcements portion of the court meeting; no county action was taken on the state-level request during the session.
