Petition Requesting a Halt on Data Center Development in San Angelo, Texas and Tom Green County

For the Immediate Attention of the San Angelo City Council and Tom Green County Commissioner's Court,

We, the undersigned residents of San Angelo, and Tom Green, call on our elected leaders to protect our community by voting against any current or future negotiations, agreements, or contracts involving data centers or data‑center–related projects.

We respectfully request the following actions:

• That City Council and County rescind any proposal, lease, contract, memorandum, or agreement connected to Skybox Data Centers, Emergent, San Angelo Data Center Campus Power, LLC, Beacon, or any other data center developer in discussions. 

• That the City and County cease and desist all ongoing and future negotiations with data center corporations, developers, builders, or any parties seeking to establish a data center in San Angelo and Tom Green County

• That full transparency be provided to the public regarding all discussions, documents, and communications related to the Skybox/Emergent and Beacon proposal and any similar projects.

San Angelo and Tom Green County residents are united in saying NO to data centers that threaten our water, our health, and our long‑term financial stability. We expect our city leaders to uphold the community’s interests and ensure that decisions are made openly, responsibly, and with full public involvement.

This request is based on substantial and well‑documented concerns regarding the environmental, public health, and financial impacts associated with large‑scale data center operations. As stewards of San Angelo and Tom Green County's long‑term welfare, we believe it is incumbent upon city leadership to exercise caution, ensure transparency, and prioritize the public interest before advancing any industrial project of this magnitude.

Environmental Implications
Data centers are recognized nationwide as among the most resource‑intensive industrial facilities. Communities across the United States have experienced significant environmental strain as a result of their operation. Key concerns include:

Excessive water consumption, which poses a direct threat to water security in drought‑prone regions such as West Texas.
Extraordinary electrical demand, requiring new substations, expanded transmission infrastructure, and increased reliance on fossil‑fuel generation, thereby contributing to air quality degradation.
Thermal and noise pollution generated by cooling systems, mechanical equipment, and backup power units, affecting nearby neighborhoods and natural habitats.
Permanent land‑use conversion, resulting in the industrialization of areas previously intended for residential, agricultural, or mixed‑use development.
Given San Angelo and Tom Green County's limited water resources and the region’s climatic vulnerabilities, the environmental risks associated with data centers are incompatible with responsible long‑term planning.

Public Health Considerations
Residents living near data centers in other municipalities have reported adverse health and quality‑of‑life impacts, including:

Persistent low‑frequency noise from cooling and ventilation systems
Exposure to diesel emissions from routine generator testing and emergency backup operations
Localized heat increases due to the thermal output of large server farms
These conditions disproportionately affect sensitive populations, including children, older adults, and individuals with respiratory or cardiovascular conditions. The City of San Angelo has a duty to safeguard the health and well‑being of its residents by preventing avoidable industrial hazards.

Financial and Economic Concerns
Although data centers are frequently promoted as engines of economic development, the documented outcomes in many communities reveal a different reality:

Minimal job creation, often limited to a small number of highly specialized positions.
Significant tax abatements and public incentives, which shift financial burdens onto local taxpayers
Substantial infrastructure costs, including water lines, electrical upgrades, road improvements, and emergency services. Limited economic spillover, as data centers do not generate broad commercial activity or diversified employment opportunities

San Angelo and Tom Green County taxpayers should not be expected to subsidize projects that provide limited economic return while imposing long‑term public costs.

Need for Transparency and Public Oversight
Given the scale and potential consequences of data center development, residents have a right to:

Full disclosure of all negotiations, incentive discussions, and development proposals
Independent environmental, water‑use, and infrastructure impact assessments
Public hearings and opportunities for meaningful community input prior to any commitments
A development process that prioritizes transparency, accountability, and the public interest
These principles are essential to maintaining public trust and ensuring responsible governance.

In conclusion, in light of the concerns outlined above, we respectfully request that the City of San Angelo and Tom Green County Commissioners:

Enact an immediate halt on the approval, negotiation, or incentivization of data center developments;

Decline any pending or future proposals for data center construction.

Adopt a transparent public engagement process that ensures residents have a meaningful role in shaping the city’s long‑term development strategy especially regarding large scale industrial projects.

Prioritize sustainable, community‑beneficial economic development that aligns with San Angelo’s environmental realities and public values.