Staff Response to Data Centers

[Max Lars]

Innovation should align with our community’s values, including the protection of our natural resources and the quality of life of our residents.

With this principle in mind, in May, I proposed a framework for preventing and regulating data centers in Austin to assure that the City is a careful and thoughtful steward of our water, energy, and land resources and to prevent incompatible land uses in order to protect our residents. I’m pleased that Council Members Ellis, Alter, Velásquez, and Siegel joined me in this effort. You can read our original post here: https://austincouncilforum.org/viewtopic.php?t=2256

In response to the proposal, City staff released a memo today that will help the City Council establish clear and rigorous protective guardrails that put Austin values first and prevent harm to our community. The memo recognizes the importance of Austin keeping up with the technological changes of our times while protecting our City. The memo:

• Gives clarity and increases transparency on existing data centers currently operating in Austin.

• Provides staff recommendations on policies to prevent, limit, regulate, and manage data centers. This includes a new set of land use requirements and restrictions specifically targeting high impact data centers, directives for new permitting protections, and mechanisms for identifying and strengthening environmental sustainability performance standards for high use customers of Austin Energy and Austin Water.

• Renews our commitment to the economic development framework Council unanimously passed in May, which offers a clear vision on how we build and deploy our economic development tools, so that companies meet the standards Austinites want and expect.

• Includes other appropriate and relevant mechanisms using those tools currently accessible to local government to curb unsuitable uses.

I appreciate the professionalism and thoughtfulness from our City staff. You can read the memo here: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 112335.pdf

Now it is time for the City Council to act deliberately and decisively. We will do that.

On August 25, Austin City Council will hold a Work Session focused on data centers. We will hear from staff about the mechanisms available to us. On August 27, Council will have discussion and possible action related to data centers.

The concerns arising from rapid development of high impact data centers across our country and its impact on our local utilities, water supply, and use of land are legitimate. These concerns also present an opportunity for us to set the standard of what a responsible future looks like.

Thanks,

Kirk
On Behalf of Mayor Watson