The Burnetts live next to a data center in Brazoria County that creates a constant humthey've compared to a crawfish boiler or a jet about to take off.
They told Houston Public Media in June that the noise had taken a toll on their quality of life.
"It’s a huge concern no matter how you dice it, whether it’s our property or health," Melissa Burnett said. "I mean, there wasn’t enough safeguards put in place prior to this coming in."
In August, Gov. Greg Abbott paused permits for some new data centers until an audit could be completed.
But since then, Melissa Burnett said she hasn't really seen any changes. The pause only applied to certain new data centers.
Now, as new state leaders prepare to take office, she's hoping for positive change — though she does have mixed feelings about the election results.
"I didn't really want to have to start over with a new governor," she said. "But at the same time, I am ... just praying for the best outcome with this change."
She's not the only one hoping for changes under new leadership.
Megan Atchison lives in rural north Texas, near Wichita Falls. She's been speaking out against a proposed data center near her home.
Atchison, who leans conservative, said she would have liked to see Governor Abbott call a special legislative session to pass new regulations for data centers.
"But hindsight's 20/20," she added. "It's November, so what I really care more about now is what's going to happen at [the] legislative session in 2027."
Atchison hopes state legislators will pass new zoning restrictions for data centers next year.
"They are not quiet," she said. "They are a massive industrial building. They belong with other industrial buildings."
Rice University political science professor Mark Jones said there's a good chance the Texas legislature could be open to passing restrictions for data centers.
He said unlike more partisan issues — like abortion or gun control — data centers have faced backlash from across the aisle.
That matters in a state legislature where Republicans will control the senate, and Democrats will have the majority in the House.
"Many Republican senators, particularly those from rural areas, will be under a lot of pressure to vote for this Democratic legislation if it appears reasonable and doesn't seem to be killing off the entire data center industry," Jones said.
State lawmakers across both parties have already begun to file bills to limit data centers, ahead of next year's legislative session. They've proposed new laws to roll back tax exemptions for data center projects and require more transparency when these facilities want to build a new project.
For her part, Gov.-elect Hinojosa has promised a moratorium on data centers, until new legislation is passed. And she's expressed support for repealing tax incentives for these projects.
In a statement, the Data Center Coalition, an industry group, said it is committed to working with state and local leaders to promote responsible growth.
"The data center industry is committed to advancing America's digital infrastructure, including here in the Lone Star State, as well as supporting energy reliability and affordability and promoting long-term, responsible economic development," the coalition’s Texas Director of Government Affairs, Jess Heck, said in a statement. "We will continue to engage with residents and local leaders to understand community priorities and ensure that the growth of digital infrastructure delivers clear benefits for Texans."
Megan Atchison, who lives near the planned data center near Wichita Falls, said she understands the need for these facilities. But, she added, they need to be well-planned, and she hopes newly elected officials will make good on their promises to pass reasonable restrictions.
"The real test will be what happens in [the] legislative session when all of these representatives go in and sit down and have to roll up their sleeves and get to work," she said. "The people that voted them in are saying ‘This is what we want. This is what we see. Now, we need this issue addressed.'"
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