Dallas – During a press conference in Dallas, Democratic candidate for governor Gina Hinojosa called for stronger local input and consumer protections before AI‑driven data centers are built in Texas neighborhoods. She argued that Texans deserve a seat at the table to decide whether such facilities should be sited near their homes, and she urged lawmakers to pass legislation that would safeguard water, electricity costs and community health.
Hinojosa’s demand for local control
“There’s no protection for people to have a seat at the table to decide if and how they come into their communities,” Hinojosa said. “We are left to fend for ourselves under Greg Abbott, and people are big mad in Texas about the data centers.” She highlighted concerns from residents who discovered a data center already operating within 1,500 feet of their homes, noting the noise, light and water‑use impacts that have already surfaced.
Abbott’s pause and call for stricter rules
Governor Greg Abbott, who previously welcomed the artificial‑intelligence industry, has shifted his stance. In August he ordered a pause on certain data‑center approvals, and last month he said he wants to ban new AI data‑center projects in rural Texas neighborhoods. “We must prohibit them from building AI data centers in rural Texas neighborhoods, and we must eliminate the tax break they are getting,” Abbott told supporters in Bullard. He added that developers should be required to fund their own infrastructure costs.
Abbott’s office points to a June letter to the Public Utilities Commission of Texas and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas outlining his ideas, including a repeal of sales‑tax exemptions for data‑center operators. The governor emphasizes that the pause is a step toward a more responsible regulatory framework.
Both sides agree a moratorium is needed, but differ on depth
Hinojosa echoed the need for a moratorium, but warned that Abbott’s pause is “in name only” unless accompanying legislation establishes clear guardrails. “I could issue a moratorium, but it would be in place until laws are passed to accomplish those things,” she said, underscoring her push for statutory protections.
Local residents voice frustration
A resident of the Joppa community, speaking at the press event, said she only learned a data center was being built after construction began. “We do not want one,” she said, “but it is now up and running, and we are faced with the challenge of having the data center less than 0.3 miles from our community.” Her comments reflect a broader pattern of complaints across Texas about noise, glare and water consumption linked to the rapid proliferation of data facilities.
What’s at stake for Texas
Data centers have become a hot‑button issue as hundreds have sprung up statewide, promising jobs and tax revenue while raising concerns about environmental impact and community consent. The debate pits economic development incentives against the need for transparent, locally driven decision‑making.
As the gubernatorial race heads toward the November ballot, both candidates are positioning their data‑center policies as a test of their commitment to Texas families and the Constitution‑based principle of local self‑government. Voters will be asked to weigh the promise of high‑tech growth against the desire for community control and responsible resource use.
Original reporting: Dallas – Ft. Worth Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
