Austin City Council Responds to State’s Inaction by Taking First Step Toward Keeping Large Data Centers Out
Council moves to start defining, excluding and regulating data centers
AUSTIN, Texas — Today, the Austin City Council voted to begin creating new rules for data centers, the latest example of local government taking action on an issue where state leaders have failed to deliver meaningful action.
The unanimous vote directs City of Austin staff to draft an update to the Land Development Code to define data centers in zoning and establish guardrails for, or even exclude, new data center developments in Austin.
“The Austin City Council deserves praise for taking this step,” said Kaiba White, an Austin-based climate policy specialist for Public Citizen. “While Gov. Greg Abbott can only offer performative and mostly voluntary measures, local leaders are acting to protect the community from large-scale data centers. Austinites can celebrate this action, but it’s no substitute for the governor finally listening to Texans by calling a special session of the legislature to pass a real statewide moratorium and comprehensive statewide protections to prevent Big Tech’s resource grab.”
Council members are expected to receive the first phase of the updated ordinance for consideration in December.
Ahead of today’s vote, Public Citizen and the Save Our Springs Alliance submitted their own set of recommendations for a potential ordinance, including limitations on where large data centers could be located and their size, minimum distances from other data centers, as well as homes, hospitals, daycares and other sensitive infrastructure.
In recent weeks, Abbott has begun responding to public outcry, though advocates and everyday Texans have called his moves ineffective and lacking the force of law.