Bastrop County residents organize for data center transparency, local guardrails

With more than 5,500 acres tied to planned or potential data center development in Cedar Creek, over 100 residents packed into Bastrop’s Hampton Inn and Suites on July 22 to press for transparency and local guardrails.

The overview

Organized by the League of Independent Voters of Texas and co-sponsored by the Bastrop County Republican Club, Bastrop County Democratic Party and Texas Forward Party, residents asked questions, and local and state leaders offered information and advice on data centers and their potential effects.

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller was a guest speaker and reiterated his call for a one-year statewide moratorium on new projects to allow time to develop regulations—warning that data center growth was outpacing state oversight.

"Just stop. Hold up. This is getting away from us,” Miller said. “We have got to put some guardrails around this industry, or we’re gonna be in a huge train wreck.”

What developers are promising

Three developers have plans or are contemplating Bastrop, including:

1. EdgeConneX

As previously reported by Community Impact, EdgeConneX is planning for three Cedar Creek campuses spanning nearly 1,500 acres across 19 buildings.

Phillip Marangella, chief marketing and product officer at EdgeConneX, said in an email that the projects would create more than 200 permanent jobs with about $16 million in annual payroll. The first building is nearly complete, and the campus received a 10-year, 75% Bastrop County property tax abatement in 2024.

2. Pacifico Energy

About seven miles southeast of the EdgeConneX campuses, Pacifico Energy is considering a 2,842-acre campus on Earl Callahan Road that would pair a hyperscale data center with 710 megawatts of natural gas-fired energy. The company’s state incentive application lists a $2.2 billion investment, 25 permanent jobs and $6.2 million in annual payroll. Two 100% county tax-abatement applications and two mass-grading permit applications are under review.

3. Amazon Data Services

Separately, Amazon Data Services confirmed a May 1 purchase of 1,229 acres about three miles southwest of EdgeConneX, but told Community Impact it has not made a final development decision.

Cedar Creek resident Merrie Santana asked when the public would receive air quality, groundwater, noise and other related studies.

“I am for economic development as long as it is responsible,” she said. “But this location right here, where you see all of those communities, where you see all of those families, that location is not suitable for a data center of that magnitude.”

Although unable to provide those records to Community Impact when requested on July 9, EdgeConneX officials said they intend to "operate in full compliance with all permit conditions, including periodic monitoring requirements."

As of July 23, officials had not provided that information, and Pacifico had not responded to requests for information.

A call for action

Elgin attorney Nick Lealos proposed what he called the Bastrop Bill of Rights that would urge county officials to consider:

• Requiring tax-abatement applicants to disclose projected water and electricity demand and potential effects on costs and availability
• Publishing applications and supporting documents online
• Establishing a citizen advisory committee
• Pausing new data center tax abatements while local standards are developed
• Calling for a special legislative session and greater county regulatory authority

Town hall organizers urged residents to attend a July 27 Bastrop County Commissioners Court meeting, where a public hearing on proposed tax-abatement guidelines is set.

According to the drafted policy, companies seeking abatements would have to disclose potential environmental effects, including impacts on air and water quality, runoff, floodplains, wetlands, waste disposal and noise.

It also includes a local work policy that would require creating at least 25 full-time jobs to be filled by at least 25% of Bastrop County residents.

The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. in the Bastrop County Courthouse at 804 Pecan St., Bastrop.