This year marks the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. For two and a half centuries, the principles enshrined in that remarkable document have guided our nation, built upon the enduring ideals of individual liberty, limited government, and the rule of law. While much has changed since our Founding Fathers boldly declared independence from Great Britain, those timeless principles continue to define the greatest nation in the history of the world.
With that, I’d like to briefly step away from our ongoing discussion of House interim charges to address an issue that has generated significant attention not only across East and Southeast Texas but throughout our state – the proposed development of large-scale data centers in rural Texas.
Over the past several months, I’ve heard from county judges, landowners, water providers, and concerned citizens throughout East and Southeast Texas who have shared concerns about the potential impact these projects could have on our communities.
As a member of the House Committee on Natural Resources, I recently had the opportunity to examine many of those same issues during a committee hearing dedicated to this topic. The hearing provided an important opportunity to identify specific areas of concern and where Texas laws and agency regulations need strengthening.
For those of us in East and Southeast Texas, however, the conversation inevitably begins with water.
Water isn’t simply another policy issue; it’s one of our most valuable natural resources and the lifeblood of our communities, farms and ranches, forests, and way of life. We have been blessed with abundant lakes, rivers, streams, and aquifers, but those resources are not unlimited.
During the hearing, I questioned the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) about the protections available to counties without a Groundwater Conservation District. The answer was troubling. In many parts of Texas, there may be no local entity with the authority to regulate how much groundwater a large-scale data center pumps. That means enormous quantities of groundwater could potentially be withdrawn with little or no local oversight. That should concern every Texan. We also heard from county officials requesting some level of local oversight over proposed data center development. As I have said before, I fully support expanding the authority of our counties to provide them with additional tools to both restrict data center development and hold these actors accountable at the local level.
Equally concerning is the lack of transparency surrounding many of these proposed projects. Communities deserve to know where the water will come from, quantify how much will be used, how much electricity these facilities will require, what infrastructure improvements may be necessary, and whether local taxpayers or ratepayers will ultimately be expected to shoulder any of those costs.
Transparency should not be optional.
Communities deserve timely, accurate information before decisions with long-term consequences are made. County officials, landowners, utility providers, and nearby residents should have an opportunity to understand the scope of a proposed project, ask questions, and voice concerns early in the process. Projects of this magnitude should not come as a surprise to the communities expected to host them.
The Legislature has an opportunity – and I believe an obligation – to get this right. That means establishing reasonable guardrails that protect private property rights, safeguard our water resources, preserve electric reliability, and ensure that large-load developments are solely responsible for the infrastructure necessary to support their operations.
Responsible growth doesn’t happen by accident. It requires thoughtful planning, honest communication, and a willingness to protect the people and places that have made Texas the envy of the nation.
As we prepare for the 90th Legislature, those same principles will continue to guide my approach to policymaking. My commitment is simple: to ensure that Texas remains the nation’s economic leader while protecting the water, property rights, and rural communities that make East and Southeast Texas such a special place to call home.
The mobile office is taking a break from the road in July, and our District Director looks forward to seeing you again in August. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact my office if we can help you in any way. My district office may be reached at (936) 634-2762, and my Capitol office at (512) 463-0508.
