Data center discussion between commissioners, developer set as moratorium looms

Tom Green County commissioners in Texas are scheduled to meet on June 2 to hold a dialogue with Beacon Data Centers, a company exploring the development of a data center project called the Dove Creek Technology Campus near South FM 2335 and U.S. Highway 67 South. The meeting follows a community discussion in April where Beacon revealed its early-stage plans for the site. Immediately after the discussion with Beacon, commissioners will consider a temporary 12-month moratorium on new data centers, battery energy storage systems, and large-scale power facilities exceeding specified thresholds in Precinct 4. The moratorium, proposed by Commissioner Shawn Nanny, would pause construction of data centers larger than 1,000 square feet, as well as associated infrastructure like substations and cooling systems. Its purpose is to evaluate potential health and safety risks to residents under Texas Health and Safety Code Section 121.003. During a May 26 meeting, commissioners acknowledged legal uncertainties about imposing such a moratorium, citing concerns raised by County Judge Lane Carter about other Texas counties facing legal challenges for similar actions. The proposed moratorium includes provisions for assessing infrastructure needs, coordinating with state agencies, and granting waivers under specific conditions. Beacon Data Centers is not required to attend the June 2 meeting, though the dialogue aims to clarify the project’s potential impact before further decisions are made. The moratorium’s fate remains uncertain, pending legal review and county court discussions.