SAN ANGELO, TX — The San Angelo City Council on Tuesday unanimously voted to adopt water use regulations for data centers into law, reversing a deadlocked June 2 vote caused by an absent councilmember.
The ordinance, which received its second reading on Tuesday, adds Section 11.02.043 “Data Center” to the city code. It requires any data center to use a closed-loop cooling system, with the initial water fill limited to no more than 8 gallons per square foot of gross building area. That initial fill must occur within 12 months of receiving a certificate of occupancy.
The ordinance also requires cooling water usage to be metered separately from other water use at data centers. Any approved or emergency exceedances must be reported in writing to the City Council within five business days.
The decision came during a packed meeting at the McNease Convention Center, where residents voiced strong opposition to the prospect of a data center in the city. Councilmember Mary Coffey told attendees the council would oversee the full process of regulation and negotiation with data center companies.
It was mentioned that the new rules align with recommendations Gov. Greg Abbott outlined last week to shield Texas residents from higher taxes tied to data center development. The city has already incorporated those state guidelines into its own zoning standards.
RELATED: Abbott Orders Data Centers to Cover Their Own Power Costs, Protecting Texas Ratepayers
The council will now begin negotiations with Skybox Datacenters and Emergent Data Centers over a proposed data center campus on city-owned land in northeastern San Angelo, near the intersection of U.S. Highway 67 North and City Farm Road.
The council has faced recent pushback, including recall affidavits filed by the San Angelo Data Center Citizen Coalition against Thompson and councilmembers Joe Self and Harry Thomas.
RELATED: San Angelo Council Members, Mayor Issue Statements Amid Recall Petitions
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