Brownsville moratorium on ‘high-intensity data processing facilities’ now in effect

A Brownsville moratorium on data centers went into effect Thursday, pausing permitting for “high-intensity data processing facilities” within the city or its extraterritorial jurisdiction for the next 90 days. The city commissioners voted unanimously Wednesday to pass the moratorium, which is eligible under state law for one 90-day extension, while the Environmental and Conservation Task Force researches data centers’ potential impact on health, the environment and business in Brownsville. Mayor John Cowen Jr. said commissioners plan to extend the moratorium to the full 180 days possible. He said the city will benefit from learning how other cities have regulated data centers. “It’s an evolving industry, but I think at the very least we want to make sure that our resources are protected,” Cowen said, including water, electricity and data centers’ impact on pollution. “I think the commission is definitely going to entertain any recommendation or range of recommendations that the task fo