Yes, we are worried about the data centers in Austin County.

Dear Editor:

Yes, we are worried about the data centers in Austin County.

We live on Trenckmann Road in Sealy, Texas. A CleanSpark Data Center is being developed about two miles from us on Substation Road where there is already a TESLA Battery Energy Storage System or BESS.

Data centers, like CleanSpark, are cropping up across Texas at a speed that outpaces the counties’ ability to monitor them. In many cases, communities are not even aware that the developments are taking place until the ground is broken.

Like all other Texas Counties, Austin County lacks authority to ban data centers. However, Austin County does have authority to apply current laws that would significantly improve its ability to regulate large-scale industrial technological developments (like data centers and BESS) to ensure responsible progress is made while safeguarding the welfare of its citizens.

But time is needed for Austin County to study the best way to ensure responsible progress and safeguard the welfare of its citizens. That is why Austin County is proposing a moratorium, which would pause data center and BESS developers from further development while these studies are being completed. Please attend the Public Hearing for public input on the proposed moratorium which will take place on Monday July 13, 2026, at 6:00 pm at the Austin County Expo Center, 1076 Hwy 159 East, Bellville, Texas 77418.

If you cannot attend, you can submit written comments before noon on Friday July 10, 2026, to diannag@ austincounty. com. Sign your name and address.

Austin County citizens should contact Governor Gregg Abbott at Press Office at [email protected] and request that he support his counties in their efforts to do what is best for their citizens and so for all Texans and instate a Statewide 1-year moratorium asap.