Gael Espinoza/THE RIDER
The Brownsville’s City Commission unanimously approved a 90-day moratorium on artificial intelligence data centers during its special meeting Wednesday at City Hall.
The moratorium is scheduled to take effect Nov. 5, pending a second and final reading at the commission’s Nov. 4 special meeting.
The commission has faced public opposition over a rumor to build an AI data center at 7480 Padre Island Highway, as reported by The Rider on Aug. 26.
Mayor John Cowen told The Rider after the meeting the commission recognizes residents’ concerns about data centers coming to Brownsville.
“[It’s] important that we develop those parameters based on community input, so we created the Environmental Task Force to analyze basically what rules they recommend to be put into place,” Cowen said. “So, they’re going to be doing a lot of research over the next 90 days, but that moratorium will be extended another 90 days. So, we’ll have 180 days to review the proposed rules and regulations around data centers and for those recommendations to be coming back to the commission for approval.”
Gael Espinoza/THE RIDER
Cowen said there will be public town halls during the period to gather additional public input, along with further research into data centers.
Public hearing and reading for the extension will first take place on Jan. 19, followed by a second and final reading Feb. 2. If extended, the moratorium would expire May 18.
Christopher Basaldu, a Brownsville resident and co-founder of the South Texas Environment Justice Network, said although the moratorium was approved, he believes the commissioners were strict during the public hearing period for the moratorium.
“I was not expecting just how strict they were going to be in suppressing the public and suppressing free speech here,” Basaldu said. “It is a public hearing. It should be the most open to getting people’s comments and opinions … trying to slavishly devote itself to rules, like, little rules, and turning off microphones, and telling people that they can’t speak because they’re not on the correct topic. I think that’s reprehensible.”
Gael Espinoza/THE RIDER
During the meeting, the commission reminded residents the public hearing was limited to the moratorium. Officials said off-topic comments could result in a speaker being removed from the meeting.
Roberto Delgado, a Brownsville resident, said he felt “suspicious” about the commission.
“I think one thing that’s been kind of clear is that I feel, like, there’s a little bit too much of a smiling nature, too much of a happiness kind of showing across the commissioners for something so devastating that could be put upon our community,” Delgado said. “It just seems a little bit, how do I say, suspicious. The fact that there’s so much joy and glamour right now. … But, I mean, that is all for these things to come to light as time goes along.”
Basaldu and Delgado said they want a permanent ban on data centers in Brownsville.
Cowen said the city could make operating data centers more difficult, but is not sure if they “can explicitly ban data centers.”
“We can’t just prevent a specific type of business, because there are rules on those things,” Cowen said. “We can make it very difficult to operate, and it would not be a preferable location. I think we need to do more research in terms of the legality of a potential ban and how we can get that done.”
The mayor said he looks forward to receiving additional public input at the Nov. 4 City Commission special meeting.
