Texas residents fume over proposal to put data center next to a Buddhist monastery

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered the Public Utility Commission and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas to audit all proposed data center grid connections, as residents and a Buddhist monastery in Westlake, Texas, oppose a proposed 1 million-square-foot data center, citing noise, health, and property value concerns. The facility, which would generate $5 million annually for the first decade and $7 million thereafter, is defended by town officials as meeting safety and noise standards.

Texas residents fume over proposal to put data center next to a Buddhist monastery The backlash coincides with a directive from Gov. Greg Abbott ordering audits of all pending data center power grid connections across Texas - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments A proposed data center /news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-data-centers-nuclear-sites-ai-b3024167.html spanning more than 1 million square feet in Westlake, Texas /topic/texas , has drawn opposition from residents and a neighboring Buddhist /topic/buddhist monastery who fear the facility will destroy the tranquility of their community. The pushback comes as Texas officials step up oversight of new data centers across the state. On Monday, Gov. Greg Abbott /news/world/americas/us-politics/texas-ai-data-centers-rural-backlash-hinojosa-abbott-b3020184.html ordered the Public Utility Commission and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas to audit all proposed data center grid connections /news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-data-center-pledge-skepticism-utility-bills-b3020988.html before any construction began. Situated near the Keller city line, the privately owned parcel is governed by a Planned Development District that permits data center construction as a land use by right, as reported by NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/westlake-residents-push-back-against-proposed-data-center-near-buddhist-monastery/4058045/ . Members of a Buddhist monastery located off U.S. Highway 377 expressed their concerns regarding the facility’s potential proximity to their peaceful grounds. Maechee Sarah Hudson, a nun at the monastery, told the outlet that the site served as a sanctuary for simple living. “This space offers me a space to reflect on what’s really important in life," Hudson said. She noted that the daily routines of the sanctuary would face severe disruption because the facility would be visible and audible from the property. “It would impact our daily way of life for sure.” Hudson outlined the growing list of issues raised by neighbors living near the site. “There are a lot of different concerns around having a data center so close to home,” Hudson said. “One is its proximity, of course, with being the noise pollution and just having a data center in your backyard. I think the biggest concern is that we really don’t know what we’re dealing with.” Nearby residents living along the Keller border shared similar worries regarding health, noise and economic consequences. “Our concern is, one the noise,” resident Kevin Myers told NBC DFW . “Two, what health impacts it may have on people in this neighborhood. And three what everyone's really worried about, how it's negatively going to impact our property value.” In response to the pushback, the Town of Westlake released details framing the development off Highway 377 as a key investment, noting that the facility is set to boost annual municipal revenue by 14 percent — generating $5 million per year for the first decade and $7 million annually thereafter — while funding local services and the Westlake Academy without increasing residential taxes. Addressing resident concerns, municipal leaders confirmed https://www.westlake-tx.org/952/Westlakes-Exciting-New-Development that the development met all safety standards and would strictly adhere to local noise ordinances. Officials noted that modern sound-dampening technology would keep operational noise below 56 decibels during the day and 49 decibels at night, equivalent to a household refrigerator, at a distance of two-thirds of a mile from the nearest Westlake home. Town officials added that physical mitigation plans included a landscaped berm constructed along U.S. Highway 377, a minimum 75-foot landscape buffer on the southern boundary and the planting of 500 additional trees along the perimeter to bring the total to more than 4,000 native trees and bushes for visual screening and noise control. Municipal updates also addressed utility concerns, clarifying that the campus would not raise local electricity or water bills. The facility’s water usage would be capped at 54 million gallons annually, relying on cooling systems only 15 percent of the year, town officials said. Despite those assurances, opponents plan to maintain their push against the development. “It’s not something that you can buy or borrow or inherit or download,” Hudson said. “And we need to place importance on protecting the places that value cultivating that peace from within.” The Independent has contacted the Town of Westlake for comment. Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments comments-area