With Texas already blocking approvals for new data center projects under Gov. Greg Abbott's orders, Lubbock leaders are advancing their own temporary pause on large-scale facilities.
For people concerned about pressure on the city's water supply and electric grid, that timing may give local officials a chance to set protections before high-demand developments are permitted, according to the Texas Standard.
Here's what to know
The Lubbock City Council voted Sept. 22 to start the formal steps toward a 90-day moratorium on requests for and approvals of large-scale data centers.
Those steps take about 90 days to complete. If the council approves the pause at the end of that process, it could extend it for another 90 days.
The local action followed a pair of Abbott's directives that had already put new data center projects on ice at the state level.
Abbott first acted Aug. 3, directing that data center proposals not move forward until the Electric Reliability Council of Texas and the Public Utility Commission of Texas finish an audit of grid connection requests.
TCD Picks » Quince Spotlight
💡These best-sellers from Quince deliver affordable, sustainable luxury for all
He followed that on Sept. 21 by instructing the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to stop issuing new permits until the audit is done.
Lubbock Mayor Mark McBrayer said the city is waiting for clearer state guidance, explaining the council was "staking a position that we want to wait for our legislators at the state level to give some direction, to give some further guidance in areas that only they can give guidance."
Only two council members opposed starting the moratorium process: District 4 councilman Tim Green and District 6 councilman Tim Collins.
Green cited the projects' economic potential, while Collins asserted that the city should think carefully about when to begin a moratorium.
More background
A central worry among residents is whether large-scale data centers would overtax basic local resources.
Collins identified water as one of the biggest concerns in a city that has long invested in conservation.
He cited 2011 as the driest year on record for Lubbock County, according to National Weather Service data. The U.S. Drought Monitor continues to classify the county as being in severe drought.
Power demand is another major concern.
Abbott's audit order indicated that ERCOT is reviewing interconnection requests equal to "more than five times Texas' record peak electricity demand for ERCOT," with data centers accounting for roughly 90% of them.
Supporters of a pause believe the city should avoid approving projects before the rules are clear. Collins said those concerns also include major infrastructure costs, such as new treatment plants, pipelines, and water-rights acquisition.
Green has claimed that an across-the-board pause could leave Lubbock without potential economic benefits.
Instead of closing the door entirely, he argued that the city should review proposals one by one.
"I'm telling the data center industry: bring us a project, show us the technology, show us a water plan, show us a power plan, show us the investment, show us what it does for the taxpayers of Lubbock. Then we can make the decision," Green said.
What's being done?
The proposed moratorium is not the only action the city has taken.
On Sept. 9, the city council adopted a resolution to pause consideration of large-scale data center proposals until city rules are in place to protect residents and local resources.
City staff has also begun developing standards for such projects. Lubbock's Planning & Zoning Commission discussed those staff recommendations on Sept. 11 and postponed a vote until November.
Collins has suggested waiting for the Texas Legislature to convene in its next regular session on Jan. 12, 2027, and then shaping local rules around whatever new limits or tools lawmakers establish.
Under Texas law, two years generally must pass after a moratorium ends before the city can impose another one on the same kinds of property over the same concerns.
The city has to hold two public hearings before any local moratorium can begin. Approval would then require support from at least three-quarters of the council — 6-1 with the current membership.
"The preservation of the resources that our city has — our citizens — have bought and paid for for years" is at the center of the issue, Collins said.
Where can I learn more?
Across Texas and beyond, officials are wrestling with the way data centers strain water supplies and electric grids. These articles look at Abbott's stance, local pushback, and other moratorium efforts tied to infrastructure strain.
• Fort Worth residents urged officials to pause one proposed data center over groundwater and other concerns.
• From Utah to Georgia, communities are demanding moratoriums from officials as backlash enters national politics.
• In Burien, Washington, leaders froze new data centers for a year over power and water worries.
Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
