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

[Krista Laine]

Thank you, Mayor, for your leadership on this item.

Given the significant impact data centers are having across the country, I join you and our colleagues in calling for a freeze on data center approvals in Austin, its extraterritorial jurisdiction, and utility service areas while we work through the specifics. I also want to voice my support for Council Member Alter's thoughtful recommendations posted earlier on the Message Board.

As stewards of shared regional resources, I hope we can engage our partners in surrounding jurisdictions in these conversations, since the resources these facilities draw on are common to us all, and protecting them is a shared responsibility.

I would like to extend my gratitude to our professional staff for their work on this. I look forward to our discussion on Tuesday.

Krista