City council sides with residents over environmental and quality-of-life concerns despite promise of millions in revenue
College Station has scrapped plans for a $30 million data center following weeks of heated debate, community opposition, and a flood of petitions warning of environmental risks.
At its 11 September meeting, the City Council voted unanimously to reject the proposal by Priority Power Management, a Midland-based energy management company, which had sought to purchase 200 acres to build a 600-megawatt, two-story data center and accompanying substations.
City spokesman Colin Killian confirmed the decision, saying the vote brought to an end months of discussion over a project projected to generate between $10 million and $22 million annually for the city through property tax, sales tax, and electricity fund transfers.
Residents rally against project
The proposal faced mounting public resistance. Seventy-seven residents spoke against the plan during the council meeting, citing fears over carbon emissions, noise pollution, and strain on local infrastructure.
An online petition launched on 7 September quickly drew nearly 5,000 signatures, warning the project could have a “negative impact” on the community. It specifically highlighted concerns that the facility might house a cryptocurrency mining operation.
“Firstly, these mining operations are notorious for their enormous electricity consumption,” the petition read. “Our local electrical grid could face unprecedented strain, leading to more frequent outages and higher costs for households. Additionally, crypto mines require large amounts of water for cooling servers, threatening our already precious water supply.”
The petition also raised alarm over potential water shortages, referencing a case in Newton County, Georgia, where residents near a $750 million data center reported their taps running dry.
Balancing growth with tradition
Mayor John Nichols acknowledged the potential financial benefits but stressed that economic growth must align with College Station’s identity as a university town.
“We don’t have a lot of heavy industry in College Station,” he said. “We are obviously built around the (Texas A&M) campus and heavily committed to working with the university and its student body.”
Nichols added that the relatively small number of permanent jobs — estimated at only 40 to 50 — weighed heavily in the council’s decision. “There was nobody who really felt like the fiscal gain was worth the placement of a data center in a major industrial business park,” he said.
Future of the land remains unclear
The 200-acre site has been designated for light industrial and business development for more than 25 years, though parts of its green space remain protected. Killian said questions remain about whether the city might face similar pushback in the future if other developers come forward.
For now, the council’s vote represents a clear win for residents who argued that protecting the character and quality of life in College Station should outweigh short-term financial incentives.
“When it comes right down to it, what (the community) cares about is the quality of life and the neighborhood impacts,” Nichols said. “I would say that the council understood the cost and benefits, weighed them and voted their conscience.”
