County commissioners lack authority to regulate data centers, Lutz says

By Anton Riecher
The legal authority of the county commissioners to regulate data center development is strictly defined by Texas state law and the state Constitution, County Judge Keith Lutz emphasized in comments Monday during the Medina County Commissioners’ Court hearing.
“The only authority that this court has or any court in the state of Texas is what is given through the state’s Constitution and laws,” Lutz said.
Lutz noted that the data center boom, particularly in Medina County, has been a hot topic on social media and during a May 12 town hall meeting in Devine on the proposed “El Camino” data center project south of town.
“The public is really finally taking notice of what’s going on around us,” he said.
The rapid proliferation of nearly 400 data centers statewide includes 80 near Bexar County and nine either operating or under construction in Medina County. Key concerns include water consumption and electricity usage.
Lutz said he has been dealing with data center issues since is first day in office as county judge.
“There are so many across the state that people are really engaged in the process,” Lutz said. “I do believe that more than anything people want answers. And it is a lot to absorb. People don’t know what they can and can’t trust. You have outside influences that make their way into different groups.”
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