MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR SAN ANGELO.
|
|
What is a data center?
|
A data center is a physical location that stores data in machines and their equipment. Hyperscale data centers house AI servers, which use more electricity than pre-AI data centers. Data centers will raise the cost of your electricity bill, contribute to the use of fossil fuels, endanger water supply, create air and noise pollution, negatively impact public funds, and harm communities with toxic waste.
|
What do we know? What are we doing?January 8, 2025
Michael Looney with the Chamber of Commerce initiates conversations with City of San Angelo to annex land for the data center February 18, 2025 City Council annexes 12.05.573 acres of land NE Hwy 67
November 17, 2025 Planning Commission votes unanimously to approve Comprehensive Plan Amendment CP25-01 (changes the city’s future land plan for this property from “Rural” to “Industrial”) and Zone Change Z25-24 (345.7 acres from Ranch and Estate to “Light Manufacturing”); staff report mentions a data center may be placed here in future.
December 2, 2025 City Council approves first reading of Comprehensive Plan Amendment CP25-01 and Zone Change Z25-24. *Planning Director adds an interpretation memo saying he believes a data center is allowed in a Light Manufacturing Zoning District. December 10, 2025 Residents begin showing up to city meetings, starting w/ Development Corporation December 29, 2025 Council Member District 4 Patrick Keely hosts Town Hall Meeting at request of Paulann Neighborhood residents and other concerned citizens at Downtown Public Library to discuss concerns about Skybox Data Center.
January 13, 2026 City Council meeting where, after approximately 90 minutes of Public Comment regarding data centers and Council transparency, they have Second reading of Comprehensive Plan Amendment CP25-01 and Zone Change Z25-24
February 17, 2026 1. Economic Summit hosted by City invited Skybox to talk; 7:30a-1:30p *This meeting was scheduled before the zoning was approved on January 13 2. Special Council Meeting 5:30p City hires Westwood Consultants to create new draft data center regulations for public discussion only March 17, 2026 City Council deliberates possible lease with “San Angelo Data Center Campus Power, LLC” for Skybox property 347 acres in closed Executive Sessions (excludes public) March 23, 2026 City Staff presented Data Center Land Use regulations to Planning Commission that had been crafted through a pressurized campaign from residents and data center coalition since the re-zoning on January 13
March 30, 2026 City signs lease agreement with Data Center Campus Power, LLC requiring Skybox to follow new zoning guidelines once implemented and no vested rights at this time for a data center to be built. March 31, 2026 Mike Coleman from Emergent (Skybox’s parent company) sends a draft 380 Agreement via email for Skybox to city attorney Brandon Dyson and assistant city manager Rick Weise. (discovered after June 7 via TPIA requests)
April 20, 2026 City Staff brings back revised proposed regulations to Planning Commission with significantly reduced regulations around setbacks, noise, and fencing.
April 22, 2026 City hosts Town Hall with Emergent/Skybox and answers pre-chosen questions from those submitted online by residents
May 5, 2026 First Council hearing on new data center regulations.
May 19, 2026 City Council approves Data Center Land Use Regulations on second reading; included changes proposed by residents and coalition members. The water and wastewater requirements are presented as separate Utilities Ordinances. City Council passes first reading of new wastewater discharge ordinance for data centers
May 22, 2026 Volunteer from the Coalition emailed the entire council including the mayor and clerk regarding the Lone Star Infrastructure Protection Act asking for compliance before any data centers were approved. Their email was never replied to by any council member. May 29, 2026 Recall petition filed for Councilman Harry Thomas June 2, 2026 City Council passes second reading of wastewater ordinances for data centers but tables second reading of water ordinances until full council is present Councilman Keely made contact with the Coalition to discuss a meeting with them regarding the water ordinance, but with only two weeks between meetings it was not possible to coordinate schedules and discuss the ordinances June 4, 2026 Recall petition filed for Councilman Joe Self June 7, 2026 Residents and coalition members discover proposed 380 Agreement sent on March 31; the press also catches this news and San Angelo Live reports on it allowing City to claim it is a draft June 16, 2026 City Council passes second reading of water ordinances for data centers
July 7, 2026 City Council discusses tax abatements in “closed session“ where public is excluded July 15, 2026 Coalition members turned in recall petition for Councilman Harry Thomas August 3, 2026 Coalition members turned in recall petition for Councilman Joe Self August 4, 2026 City Council pass agenda item for Harry Thomas' recall election to be held November 3, 2026 August 18, 2026 Coalition member presented a request to the council to add a moratorium to the agenda or to add it to the November 3rd ballot. This is the second request for a moratorium. The amended moratorium and updated community signature list was emailed to every council member before the August 18th meeting. WHAT IS NEXT? Watch for Council Meeting Agenda’s for 380 on public agenda and/or Conditional Use agreement on Planning Commission Agenda
|
What can you do?There are many different ways you can be involved in your community regarding data centers. You can attend city council meetings and make a public comment, email your council member, contact your state and federal representatives, and educate others. We accomplish more together!
We need your help. |
