08 Oct Another Step Towards Data Center Moratorium

The Brownsville City Commission unanimously approved the first reading of a 90-day data center moratorium in a 7-0 vote Wednesday following its third and final public hearing on the issue. For context, most Texas cities require proposed local laws (ordinances) to be voted on twice before taking effect. Passing the “first reading” means the city council formally agreed to the proposal, but it isn’t law yet. It acts as a provisional approval.

Commissioners also filled the remaining commission-appointed seats on the Environmental and Conservation Task Force, a body tasked with evaluating how data centers could impact health, the environment, and local commerce. The task force plans to issue a preliminary report in December and a final study in March 2027.

The appointments came after members of the South Texas Environmental Justice Network, an advocacy group opposing data center construction, urged leaders to choose co-founders Bekah Hinojosa or Christopher Basaldú.

During public comment, over two dozen residents spoke out in favor of pausing data center development, citing health and pollution concerns reported in other communities host to similar facilities. Attendees also voiced opposition to appointee Carolyn Wood, a senior environmental regulatory engineer at SpaceX, arguing her employment poses a conflict of interest.

“I wouldn’t let a monkey regulate bananas or a mouse regulate cheese, the same way I wouldn’t have Carolyn Wood nominated for the environmental task force,” resident Adrian Barrientes said. “It’s a clear conflict of interest for someone from an affiliated company to be regulating their own affiliates.”

Others pointed to potential developments on 444 acres the city disannexed at SpaceX’s request in August, raising concerns about future data infrastructure following SpaceX’s acquisition of Elon Musk’s AI firm, xAI, in February.

Public policy researcher Etienne Rosas, another task force nominee who initially hesitated over Wood’s involvement, accepted his position during the meeting while calling for proper resources and advocating for Hinojosa or Basaldú to join the team.

To round out the commission’s appointments, District 1 Commissioner Bryan Martinez named Valeria Caballero, just recovery coordinator for the South Texas Environmental Justice Network. At-Large “B” Commissioner Nurith Golansky selected Justin Katusak, an attorney, UTRGV lecturer, and former Bureau of Land Management staffer. One non-voting seat remains open for assignment by the Brownsville Public Utilities Board.

Addressing public pushback, Golansky urged residents to trust the selections. “We need a well-rounded body with different strengths,” Golansky said, asking the community to give the nominees a chance to contribute.

The ordinance now advances to a final vote on Nov. 4, meeting state requirements outlined by City Attorney Will Treviño that mandate at least 28 days between readings. If approved on second reading, the moratorium will take effect Nov. 5 and run through February, with an option for a 90-day extension following additional public hearings that could keep the pause in place through May 18, 2027.