Short Summary
A coalition representing Texas farmers, ranchers, rural landowners, groundwater districts, and community organizations is asking Governor Greg Abbott to call a special legislative session before the end of August 2026 to address the rapid growth of hyperscale data centers across rural Texas.
The letter argues that many proposed projects are being placed in unincorporated areas where county governments have limited authority over land use, water consumption, electrical infrastructure, and industrial development. The coalition is requesting stronger siting and permitting standards, greater protection for groundwater and the electric grid, a review of tax incentives, increased public notice, and policies designed to preserve farmland, ranchland, and rural communities. The group states that it is not seeking to stop technological development, but wants Texas to establish clearer safeguards before additional long-term decisions are made.
Long Summary
In a letter dated July 29, 2026, a coalition of Texas agricultural, landowner, groundwater, and community organizations urges Governor Greg Abbott to convene a special session of the Texas Legislature to consider the effects of rapidly expanding hyperscale data center development.
The coalition says Texas is experiencing a significant industrial transformation, particularly in rural and unincorporated areas. According to the letter, large data center developments and their supporting power infrastructure are converting farmland and ranchland to industrial use while creating new demands for electricity and water. The coalition contends that county governments often have limited authority to regulate these projects, especially when it comes to land use, siting, groundwater consumption, and major electrical infrastructure.
The letter cites an analysis identifying at least 248 planned data center projects in Texas, with nearly half reportedly proposed for unincorporated areas. It also references polling indicating that many Texans, including a substantial share of rural residents, oppose having data centers built in their communities. The coalition presents these concerns as broader questions about private property, local decision-making, water availability, electric-grid reliability, agricultural preservation, and the use of taxpayer-supported incentives.
The authors warn that waiting until the regular 2027 legislative session could allow many projects to move forward before lawmakers and affected communities have a meaningful opportunity to evaluate their long-term consequences. The letter states that land purchases, permits, financing, and infrastructure commitments are already occurring and may become difficult to reverse.
The coalition asks the governor to call a special session before the end of August 2026 and recommends that lawmakers consider several policy areas. These include creating siting and permitting standards for hyperscale data centers in unincorporated areas, strengthening groundwater protections and long-term water planning, protecting grid reliability, and preventing infrastructure costs from being shifted to households, farmers, ranchers, and small businesses.
The letter also calls for a review of sales-tax abatements, Chapter 312 agreements, and other government incentives provided to data center projects. In addition, it seeks stronger transparency and public-notice requirements and measures intended to preserve working farms, ranches, rural infrastructure, and Texas’ long-term food and fiber production.
The coalition emphasizes that its request is not intended to halt innovation or economic development. Instead, it argues that Texas should adopt a more deliberate and balanced framework that allows responsible development while protecting natural resources, taxpayers, rural economies, and agricultural communities. The group offers to provide research, technical expertise, testimony, and local perspectives to the governor’s office and the Legislature.