Development

This week, Lubbock's City Council said it would not consider any large-scale data center projects until after adopting regulations to protect city residents and resources. Two days later, the Planning and Zoning Commission saw a presentation of potential requirements for developers, but members of the board said the proposal needs more work.

Yesterday, Lubbock’s Planning and Zoning Commission heard a proposal to add new regulations for potential large-scale data center developments within city limits. The presentation comes after a meeting earlier this week, where city council members spoke on what they want to see before considering any data center projects. No recommendations were adopted at this time and the vote was rescheduled to Nov. 5.

Lubbock’s City Council passed a resolution yesterday that the council would not consider any large-scale data center developments until after the city has adopted standards to protect residents and resources. A presentation of proposed regulations is scheduled for tomorrow at a special meeting of Lubbock’s Planning & Zoning Commission, tomorrow morning at 8:30 a.m. at Citizens Tower, located at 1314 Avenue K. You can find a copy of the recommendations here.

Data center development has picked up in the Austin area, and residents have voiced concerns about water and energy resources related to the construction. But experts say they can use those concerns to get the companies to build more sustainably.

Since President Trump announced the Lancium Crusoe Stargate facility in early 2025, Taylor County has celebrated new revenue and jobs, but community members have also decried the spike in housing costs, traffic, and other impacts.

Lubbock City Council accepted a citizens’ petition for an 18-month pause on data center development in the city and will be hearing from residents regarding the proposal on Sept. 8. If the council rejects the petition at the hearing, organizers can choose to put it on the ballot in a general election.

Abilene was sold on promises that data centers would transform their local economy. But some residents are wondering when the benefits will come.

Yesterday, Lubbock County commissioners approved a broad resolution requiring large-scale industrial developers to answer questions from the county about things like water, electricity, noise and light pollution. Under Texas law, counties do not have the authority to approve or deny industrial developments in unincorporated areas. This brought pushback from some commissioners, who argued the resolution is “unenforceable.”

In a city council meeting this week, recent fears of data center development met with generational frustrations over industrial zoning in north and east Lubbock, leading to threats of recalls for city leaders in a meeting where many who spoke out felt ignored.

Politicians on the ballot this November from both sides of the aisle have pressed for greater scrutiny on data centers in Texas. Recent polling shows most Texans oppose them in their communities.