Cameron County draws a line on data centers — but lacks the power to stop them

Cameron County is signaling resistance to large-scale data center development, citing growing concerns over water use, electricity demand, and long-term infrastructure impacts.

The Cameron County Commissioners’ Court adopted a resolution on Tuesday outlining its position on data centers, as projects tied to artificial intelligence and cloud computing expand across Texas.

The document makes clear the county is not opposed to economic development — but draws a line on how it should happen.

“The Cameron County Commissioners’ Court supports responsible economic development; however, the Court formally expresses opposition to the use of open-loop evaporative cooling systems or other high-volume potable water consumption technologies in large-scale, high continuous-load data center facilities,” the resolution states. 

Read more: Texas is quickly becoming the nation’s data center capital. Here’s how Harlingen is trying to regulate it.

Water and power at the center

County leaders point to mounting pressure on local resources as a key concern, particularly as the Rio Grande Valley continues to face recurring drought conditions.

The resolution warns that growth must occur “in a manner that protects grid reliability, water sustainability, fiscal integrity, and the quality of life of existing residents.” 

It also flags the risk of large facilities placing strain on electricity availability, especially as data centers operate continuously and require significant power loads.

Local concerns, the document states, include “potential adverse impacts of large-scale data center developments on surrounding communities, the environment, public health, consumer utility costs, land use compatibility, and strain on local infrastructure and resources.” 

A policy signal, not a ban

Despite the strong language, the county acknowledges its limited authority to regulate such projects under Texas law.

“Counties do not possess general zoning authority and are not granted broad land-use regulatory powers comparable to those of municipalities,” the resolution states. 

That constraint means the resolution functions primarily as a policy signal — outlining expectations for developers and urging stronger oversight from state and regulatory agencies.

Conditions for future support

The county says support for future data center development should be contingent on enforceable safeguards, including protections for infrastructure and ratepayers.

Among the priorities listed:

• Protecting electric grid reliability and avoiding cost burdens on residential and small-business customers
  
• Ensuring “responsible, sustainable, and transparent water use practices”
  
• Protecting agricultural land, wildlife habitats, and drainage systems
  
• Preventing degradation of roads and public infrastructure
  

The resolution also calls for full public reporting of electricity demand, water usage, and infrastructure impacts before projects receive approval.

Push for stronger oversight

County leaders are also urging independent impact analyses for future developments, including assessments of electricity transmission capacity, water availability, land use, and long-term taxpayer costs.

“No future data center project should proceed without a rigorous, independent assessment,” the resolution states. 

In addition, the court is asking state lawmakers to give counties greater authority over land use and infrastructure planning tied to large-scale projects.

Read more: Harlingen considers a temporary ban on data centers. Here’s what comes next

Balancing growth and resources

The resolution underscores a broader tension playing out across South Texas, where economic development is accelerating alongside concerns about resource constraints.

The court concludes it “cannot support new development which directly threatens water availability, electricity resources, the health of our community or diminishes our natural habitats and ecotourism efforts without proper regulatory oversight or sufficient mitigation.”