AUSTIN CO. COMMISSIONERS TO CONSIDER MORATORIUM ON DATA CENTERS, BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS
Austin County Commissioners will vote Monday on a possible moratorium on data centers and battery energy storage systems (BESS).
The moratorium would direct that all county officers, including the county fire marshal, cannot approve any permits, reviews or related documents for the building of a BESS or data center until the county has completed a comprehensive health and safety review. It would also allow the county to seek injunctive relief against any party who begins construction of those facilities without review and approval of the fire marshal.
The agenda item comes after over 100 people attended a public hearing on July 13th at the Austin County Expo Center, with many voicing concerns about data center and BESS developments and their potential impact to the area.
The proposal reads that the moratorium is in response to a “real and substantial threat to public health and safety” and “does not impose a greater burden than necessary to achieve the health and safety purpose”.
The court will meet Monday at 9 a.m. at the Austin County Courthouse.