Texas Residents Demand Pause on Data Center Expansion

Local governments struggle to balance economic benefits and community concerns over water and energy usage

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Across Texas, from Amarillo to Waco to Harlingen, residents are raising concerns over the rapid proliferation of data centers and the strain they could put on local water and energy resources. While data centers promise jobs and a boost to tax revenue, many Texans are demanding that their elected officials intervene and impose restrictions on these sprawling facilities. However, city and county officials say they have limited power to stop data center development, as state laws constrain their ability to regulate these projects.

Why it matters

The rapid growth of data centers in Texas highlights the tension between economic development and environmental sustainability. As these energy-intensive and water-hungry facilities spread, they could exacerbate existing strains on local resources, potentially driving up costs for residents. This issue is politically charged, with some state-level Republican leaders pushing to attract more data centers while grassroots opposition is mounting, especially in rural areas.

The details

Data centers are large facilities that store computing infrastructure and digital data, often to power cloud computing and artificial intelligence. They are popping up across Texas, with major projects planned or underway in places like Pecos County, Abilene, the Texas Panhandle, and near Waco and Harlingen. These data centers promise jobs and a boost to local tax revenue, but many residents are concerned about their water and electricity usage. In some cases, like in Harlingen, the data centers plan to use reclaimed wastewater, but critics argue this could still strain local resources. City and county officials say their hands are tied, as state laws limit their ability to regulate data centers, though some are exploring ways to impose conditions through zoning, utility control, and tax abatement agreements.

  • In February 2026, the State Republican Executive Committee passed a resolution calling for more oversight of data center projects.
  • In the lead-up to the March 2026 primary elections, opposition to data centers has become a key campaign issue in Texas Senate District 22.

The players

Greg Abbott

The Governor of Texas, who has promoted the state as a leader in data center development.

Rena Schroeder

A Republican candidate for Texas Senate District 22, who has made opposition to data centers the centerpiece of her campaign.

David Cook

A Republican state representative running for Texas Senate District 22, who has committed to filing legislation to address data center development.

Sid Miller

The Texas Agriculture Commissioner, who wants to protect farmland from being converted into data center sites.

Trey Wilson

A real estate lawyer from San Antonio with experience in land use law and water district counsel.

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What they’re saying

“Even though you may not be drawing on our water or our electricity, you're drawing on somebody's water, and somebody's electricity somewhere. And that is a thing that we don't want to see our city participating in.”

— John Nichols, Mayor of College Station (The Texas Tribune)

“I'm afraid that what's going to happen is that we're going to be used by the folks who run these data centers. They'll use us for our water and our energy, not provide jobs, not provide economic stability, and I'm afraid it could literally destroy the town.”

— Tammy Lozano, Harlingen resident (The Texas Tribune)

“When a business seeks to invest in Cameron County and complies with all applicable standards, permitting requirements, and resource arrangements that fall outside the Cameron Court's authority, we have limited ability to restrict that business's operations.”

— Eddie Treviño, Cameron County Judge (The Texas Tribune)

What’s next

The Texas Legislature is expected to consider new regulations and oversight measures for data centers in the next legislative session, in response to growing public pressure.

The takeaway

The data center boom in Texas has sparked a grassroots backlash, as residents worry about the strain these facilities could place on local water and energy resources. While data centers promise economic benefits, city and county officials have limited tools to regulate them, leading to calls for stronger state-level intervention to balance development and community concerns.