A citizen-led petition that would place an 18-month moratorium on high-energy-use and high-water-use data center development in the city of Lubbock will be presented Tuesday afternoon to the City Council.
During its meeting set for 2 p.m. at Citizens Tower, the council will consider a resolution to receive from the City Secretary all papers received pertaining to a citizen-led petition seeking an amendment regarding AI data centers in the city.
Once received by the council, this would trigger a public hearing set for the Sept. 8 city council meeting where members of the public can present arguments for and against the proposed ordinance. After that, the council ultimately will consider whether to adopt the citizen-proposed ordinance or, if they reject it, let it go to voters in the next regularly scheduled election in November.
"Outside corporations are planning massive 'data centers' or 'server farms' just outside Lubbock," reads a message on the Save Lubbock advocacy group's website. "While pitched as a technological win, many locals want clearer answers about what this means for our daily lives. These giant facilities require enormous amounts of water and electricity to operate, raising serious questions about how this will affect our community's resources."
About the Lubbock AI data center petition process
The petition comes after a committee with the Save Lubbock organization on June 3 filed in the Office of the City Secretary an initiating statement for the purpose of an initiative regarding an "18-month moratorium on high-water-use and high-energy-use data centers in the City of Lubbock, Lubbock County, Texas," according to the city council's agenda.
This triggered the 60-days for organizers to gather signatures and file a petition. The Initiating Statement was signed by Stephen Sanders, Nikki Davis, Phyllis Gant Gambles, Kathyl Anderson and Samuel Edward Lively. At least five of those signing the statement were required to be qualified voters of the city of Lubbock, according to the city secretary's office.
On Aug. 3, a petition was filed with the city secretary's office that contained 3,910 signatures. The requirement for this initiative to go before the council was 2,410 valid signatures. A verification process through the city secretary's office confirmed 3,407 signatures were valid, enough
As per the City of Lubbock Charter, the City Secretary was required to submit to the City Council all papers pertaining to the petition by resolution. The City Council sets a public hearing, and has 30 days to take final action by either adopting or rejecting the resolution initiated by the petition.
Adam D. Young is the Editor of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal and Amarillo Globe-News in Texas. Have a news tip for him? Email him at ayoung@lubbockonline.com.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: City Council to receive AI data center petition from Save Lubbock
