Additional protections re: Data Centers

[Max Lars]

Council--

A question has come up about the process going forward now that we have the memo from staff. Please see my previous message board post.

My intention from the beginning was to create protections and processes in case someone wanted to place a data center in Austin. My strong recommendation is that there be a freeze on approvals of any application to any City department that is for the purpose of placing a data center in Austin city limits, Austin's ETJ, or the service area of an Austin utility until we have a complete policy that has been adopted by Council.

Thanks,

Kirk
On Behalf of Mayor Watson

[Ryan Alter]

Thank you, Mayor, for your work on this issue. I have heard over and over again from residents that they don’t want to see new large-scale data centers in Austin. People are rightfully concerned that data centers use too much water, too much electricity, and make too much noise. That is why I am seeking the following clarifications to what is laid out in the staff memo:

- Prohibiting large data centers in any existing zones;
- Not mapping any data center zones, thereby requiring Council approval for their use; and
- Including carbon-free generation requirements to any proposed data center rules.

These protections are in line with what Austinites are asking for and I look forward to discussing them on Tuesday.

Ryan

[Jose Velasquez]

Thank you Mayor for the clarification on the process.

I agree with Council Member Alter on the points articulated in his post.
We need to understand from Staff how we can best offer these protections to our community.

Looking forward to our conversation on Tuesday.

CMJV

[Vanessa Fuentes]

Colleagues,

I strongly support a moratorium on data centers in Austin, at a minimum, while we consider regulations. It’s clear that data centers present real risks to our people, environment, and local resources.

I look forward to our conversation on Tuesday.

In community,
Vanessa