Tom Green County Commissioners Reject Data Center Moratorium

SAN ANGELO, Texas — The Tom Green County Commissioners’ Court voted Tuesday not to pursue a temporary moratorium on large-scale energy and data center development in Precinct 4 after hearing a presentation from Beacon Data Centers about its proposed Westline Site in Dove Creek. 

The decision came during the court’s regular meeting on June 2. Commissioners had placed the moratorium item on the agenda immediately after Beacon’s presentation. The proposed 12-month moratorium would have blocked new construction of battery energy storage systems exceeding 5 megawatts, data centers larger than 1,000 square feet, power generation facilities exceeding 5 megawatts, and related infrastructure. 

Beacon Data Centers co-founder and executive vice president Joseph Shovlin outlined the project, previously presented to the community as the Dove Creek Technology Campus. The site is located near the intersection of South FM 2335 and U.S. Highway 67 South along Spring Creek. It includes about 1,240 acres of buildable land — roughly 70% of the total acreage — with a buffer of more than 100 yards from the nearest property lines. 

Shovlin said the project remains in early planning stages while the company completes multiple studies and surveys. Plans call for a closed-loop cooling system, an on-site well for potable water, removal of mesquite trees to free up water resources, and evaluation of brackish water with on-site desalination. Power would come entirely from on-site natural gas generation, with a grid connection used only for backup and ERCOT coordination, keeping the development from affecting local electricity rates.

“We will never be considered a good neighbor or a good community participant if everyone in the room and everyone in the Concho Valley has a consequent increase in their electricity billing,” Shovlin said. 

The presentation also addressed noise mitigation through equipment placement, acoustic barriers and enclosures, as well as support for county infrastructure, including a formal road-use agreement, volunteer fire department assistance, EMS coordination and a construction traffic management plan that may include rail delivery of heavy materials. 

Shovlin said construction could begin in spring or summer 2027 and take two to four years. The project would create about 1,200 construction jobs and more than 300 permanent operations and maintenance positions, with employees required to live within a one-hour drive of the site.

After the presentation and questions from commissioners, the court chose not to advance the moratorium, citing concerns over its legal authority under Texas law and the risk of costly litigation. Commissioner Shawn Nanny referenced a recent $100 million lawsuit filed against Hill County after it approved a similar one-year moratorium. 

Multiple commissioners said they would instead explore other options within their authority to address potential community impacts. 

Shovlin told commissioners the company is “open to constructive engagement on every facet of the project” and would consider additional public meetings. 

Beacon’s proposed next steps include independent infrastructure studies, execution of a road-use agreement with the county, and quarterly updates to commissioners during construction and operations.