Lubbock's City Council will have a decision on their hands next month regarding the further development of large-scale AI data centers in the city.
City leaders on Tuesday voted to formally receive from the City Secretary all documentation pertaining to a citizen-led petition that advocates hope would place an 18-month moratorium on high-energy-use and high-water-use data center development in the city of Lubbock. It was a petition that received more than 3,400 valid signatures - nearly 1,000 more than was required to bring it before the council and potentially put it on the Nov. 3 general election ballot.
This triggers 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.
That's when the council ultimately will consider whether to adopt the proposed ordinance creating a moratorium or, if they reject it, let it go to voters in the next regularly scheduled election in November.
Although the council took no further action - yay or nay - on the proposed ordinance Tuesday, they heard from nearly a dozen community members who spoke during public comments, all but one of whom urged the council to oppose large-scale data centers in some form or fashion. That came after a large community gathering hosted by the city last month during which nearly 70 community members spoke on the topic of large-scale data centers.
After listening to public comments Tuesday, Councilman Tim Collins said he and fellow council members generally share the same concerns about large-scale AI data centers and are working to find solutions. But, he warned, he was under the impression the proposed 18-month moratorium would put the city at odds with state law. This comes as Gov. Greg Abbott has issued several directives and guidelines for data centers in recent months - including a temporary pause on data center construction earlier this month - while both Democrats and Republicans have offered different proposals for handling data center development as the issue becomes heated ahead of the Nov. 3 general election.
Mayor Mark McBrayer said city leaders are working to develop several ordinances within the bounds of state law to better address potential future large-scale data center development in the city.
"There are several different tracks that this process will move forward on," McBrayer said, although there was no specific timeline for when those would be proposed.
Public comments largely share concerns about AI data centers in Lubbock
Several citizens and organizers who spoke during public comments of Tuesday's meeting echoed concerns about pollution, unsustainable water usage and other potential environmental degradations large-scale AI data centers could bring to the community. That includes concerns that were shared at the public town hall meeting city leaders organized to hear feedback on large-scale AI data centers in July at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center.
Organizers with the Save Lubbock advocacy organization that led the petition drive over the summer emphasized that a moratorium would allow city leaders and the community more time to weigh those potential impacts before moving forward with new projects in the city.
"It's not saying 'No,' it's saying: "Whoa, let's slow down," said Stephen Sanders, a former mayoral candidate and organizer with Save Lubbock. "I think that is a part of protecting and serving the people of the city."
Advocates including Roger Settler said the anti-data-center initiative has created a coalition of community members from all walks of life and varying political beliefs.
He urged the council to take note of that broad support and vote for the moratorium during their meeting next month rather than sending it to voters.
"We can avoid the expense of an election just by (adopting the ordinance)," Settler said.
Addressing the council, Phyllis Gant Gambles noted the success Save Lubbock had in securing more signatures than the organization needed for this petition process.
"If we can get those signatures, we can get recall signatures," she said
While one community member - Debbie Frost Widner - who spoke during public comments shared anecdotes she said she heard from industry experts assuaging concerns about data center water usage - emphasizing the potential for relatively limited water usage with closed-looped systems - others cited data and shared concerns about potential environmental and human impacts and water usage.
Councilman Green encouraged citizens to seek out independent, non-partisan information about data centers to help inform their opinions.
About the Lubbock AI data center petition process
The petition came 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: Lubbock City Council receives AI data center petition, hears earful
