By Mark Archibald
Residents also highlighted the amount of power and water data centers would use.
Event coordinator and Angus area resident Robin Ratliff stated, “I am thankful the community showed up to learn about the proposed project. If we don’t want Navarro County – our homes, ranches, et cetera, to become an industrialized county, we have to fight at the state level to give our local and county elected officials the authority to protect our rural communities.”
Liz Smith, President of the Angus Water Corporation Board, attended the event last Tuesday and advised the audience that, “The State of Texas requires that utilities be provided to residential, commercial and industrial users if a sufficient resource exists.”
The evening was hosted by Navarro County Commissioners Jason Grant and Eddie Moore, at the Angus Baptist Church on Tuesday.
Commissioner Precinct 1 Jason Grant said there are several data centers exploring opportunities in Navarro County.
“There are eight or ten data centers kicking the tires in Navarro County, but a lot of things have to happen before they can get started, beginning with land acquisition,” he said.
Moore, who represents Precinct 3, talked about the limitations that the County has to regulate these data centers.
“What we’re trying to do with this petition is to get Austin’s attention,” he said.
“Texas Counties have limited oversight and authority to regulate what types of businesses can operate and where they can locate,” said Moore.
Moore added, “The state has a habit of tying our hands and feet then telling us to get to work.”
“The Governor got these things to Texas by offering incentives. Those incentives are set to expire in 2027,” said Grant, who recently testified in Austin.
Multiple overflow rooms were filled during the testimony, which lasted 12 hours, according to Grant.
“They were not expecting that many people,” he said.
Grant and Moore agreed that rural Texans should regularly contact their State and Federal elected officials and request a moratorium to allow time to study data centers and similar technologies.
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