Westlake approves a new data center
The short version: Westlake approved a data center, but neighboring Keller's council voted to oppose it and demand a 30-day pause — after the fact.
Our Take
Notice the sequence here: Westlake approves the data center first, and only then does neighboring Keller scramble to pass a resolution asking for a 30-day pause and "protections" on energy use and landscaping. That's not a negotiation, that's a request for mercy after the vote already happened. Credit to CBS Texas for getting this on camera, because it's a near-perfect case study in how these deals get done — one town council signs off, and the fallout lands on the people next door who never got a say.
This is the pattern we track at GridWatch: a data center's footprint doesn't respect city limits. The megawatts it pulls, the substations it needs, the traffic and noise during construction — all of that spills into Keller regardless of which town collects the tax revenue. Asking politely for better landscaping after the entitlement is locked in is not a protection, it's a consolation prize. Real leverage happens before the vote, not after.
If you live near a proposed or approved site, don't wait for your neighbor's council to do the fighting for you. Check our facility map to see what's already been approved near you, and use our take-action guide to learn how to get in front of these decisions instead of reacting to them.
This is GridWatch the USA’s original commentary. The video above is the work of CBS TEXAS, published on YouTube — full credit to the creator.