Managing Large-Load Data Centers

[Louisa Brinsmade]

Colleagues,

At the last Council meeting, we unanimously passed a resolution to create an active, progressive economic development policy for the City of Austin. I appreciate all of the Council supporting a framework that makes Austin’s values binding, visible, and consistently applied so that every economic development decision reflects who we are. We should be proud.

And now that it’s in place, we can begin taking next steps to grow our economy and, at the same time, assure the community that our values are met.

I propose that we begin evaluating under what circumstances, if any at all, new large-load data centers should be in Austin. My office and I have been involved with this issue for some time now as part of our work on the economic development policy and our work with national mayoral leadership organizations that I’m part of.

I’m very pleased that Council Members Ellis, Alter, Velásquez, and Siegel have joined me as co-sponsors of this proposal, and that they signed on to this Message Board post.

We’re asking the City Manager to provide us with the mechanism that will best accomplish this, including utilizing land use restrictions, and other means. The Manager and I have discussed this. We’re hoping that other members of the Council will utilize the Message Board to indicate thoughts about, or agreement with, the proposal.

We’re asking the City Manager to have an item ready for discussion and action in July. Between now and July, the Manager can publish the proposal so that the community will have time to review it.

This will allow us to go forward in a thoughtful way yet get things moving. We’re addressing something important that shouldn’t be rushed. We want and need it to be tight and right.

This is a logical, responsible, strategic next step. We hope all of you will join.

Thanks,
Kirk, Paige, Ryan, José, Mike