A Virginia-based real estate developer is moving forward with plans for a second enormous data center complex in Bastrop County, doubling down on a region that is already feeling the strain of rapid industrial growth. While proponents point to jobs and tax revenue, local residents and watchdog groups are raising serious questions about water consumption, grid reliability, and whether Bastrop County infrastructure can handle the load.
Data centers of this scale are not passive tenants. They draw extraordinary amounts of electricity — sometimes rivaling the demand of small cities — and require massive water supplies for cooling systems. Central Texas, already grappling with drought cycles and a power grid that has faced high-profile failures, may not be the wisest host for back-to-back mega-facilities of this kind.
Stakeholder Positions:
Developers and business interests argue the project will create construction jobs, generate property tax revenue for local schools and services, and signal that the region is a serious economic player in the tech sector.
Bastrop County residents and environmental advocates counter that the community was never meaningfully consulted, that existing roads and utilities are already stretched thin, and that the cumulative environmental impact of two massive facilities deserves a thorough, independent review before any permits are issued.
ERCOT and grid watchers have flagged data centers as a growing source of demand unpredictability. Adding another facility of this magnitude raises legitimate concerns about reliability for everyday Texans, particularly during summer peaks.
This is the kind of decision that shapes a community for decades. Bastrop County residents deserve transparent public hearings, a comprehensive environmental impact assessment, and honest answers about who ultimately subsidizes the infrastructure upgrades these projects require.
What You Can Do: Contact the Bastrop County Commissioners Court and ask them to require a full environmental and infrastructure impact review before approving any permits. Attend public meetings, sign up for county planning notifications, and connect with local civic groups already organizing around this issue. Austin-area residents should also contact state legislators on the House Energy committee to push for stronger statewide oversight of large-scale data center siting.