AUSTIN CO. TO HOLD PUBLIC HEARING MONDAY ON PROPOSED MORATORIUM FOR DATA CENTERS, BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS

  

Austin County Commissioners will hold a public hearing on Monday regarding the county’s proposed moratorium on data centers and battery energy storage systems (BESS).

The hearing will take place at 6 p.m. at the Austin County Expo Center in Bellville.  Residents will be able to discuss the proposed moratorium, ask questions and make statements.  No action is scheduled to be taken.

Per the proposal, county commissioners believe the county’s existing review processes and regulations pertaining to BESS and data centers are not sufficient, and that a comprehensive health and safety review is needed before any construction of that type can be authorized within the unincorporated areas of the county.

BESS and data center developments have grown in numbers across the state, but they have also come under greater scrutiny.  

Earlier this year, Hill County in North Texas instituted a moratorium on data centers, but a $100 million lawsuit by a data center developer led to the county ending the moratorium and instead adopting a checklist for developers to adhere to.

Governor Greg Abbott has directed the Public Utility Commission of Texas and Electric Reliability Council of Texas to take action to ensure that data centers pay for their own electric infrastructure costs.  He also said he will work with lawmakers next session on steps such as repealing sales tax exemptions and other incentives deemed unnecessary for data centers, as well as requiring them to use water-efficient technologies, report annual electricity and water usage data, and establish best-practice standards to reduce impacts on local communities.