ALVIN, TEXAS — The Alvin City Council unanimously approved a resolution on June 4 opposing data center development within city limits pending additional studies and regulatory reviews.
The resolution formally opposes the construction, development, expansion, or approval of data center facilities within its corporate limits until further information and policy considerations are reviewed. Mayor Gabe Adame requested the agenda item after discussions about proposed data center projects in Alvin's extraterritorial jurisdiction and Brazoria County.
The resolution does not establish a permanent prohibition or regulatory ban on data centers in the city. City officials identified several areas requiring further evaluation, including electrical demand, water consumption, wastewater capacity, transportation networks, emergency services, land use compatibility, environmental sustainability, and tax base impacts.
Alvin City Council member Scott Salter voiced his opposition. Salter said. "No final decision has been made by the City of Alvin regarding this potential project; however, I believe residents deserve to know where I stand early in the process."
Representatives working with CenterPoint and a data center developer evaluated potential development sites ranging from approximately 100 to 200 acres. Salter said. "Daily power consumption is just under 200 megawatts; the initial electrical load of this proposed site was 200 megawatts, so I immediately was a little worried that it would double the power consumption in our area."