Residents oppose proposed $10 billion data center near Elm Mott

WACO, Texas (KWTX) - A proposed $10 billion data center near Elm Mott has prompted Lacy Lakeview residents to organize opposition to the project.

The data center would sit on 520 acres of farmland and specialize in artificial intelligence. Residents say they don’t want the area around Taylor Lane disturbed.

Infrakey purchased the farmland in June, but some residents say they were left in the dark about the project. A petition against the project has over 1,500 signatures.

Residents voice concerns at city council

“We do not consent to the Infrakey data center,” Mary Beechner told Waco city council members. She hopes her speech can help save the 520 acres near Taylor Lane.

“It’s beautiful, it’s forested, it’s out in the countryside,” Beechner said. She said she’s nervous the peaceful plot could be disrupted with the AI data center.

“It’s automatically going to displace so many people, so many animals, so many trees. The nature there is so important and that’s just going to be bulldozed,” she said.

Beechner said Infrakey has no comprehensive plan, no environmental study, and did not inform residents about the project. Rather than being angry, she said she chose to inform people.

Beechner said she started a petition against the project. Two weeks later, it has over 1,500 signatures.

“It has really opened my eyes to what we’re capable of and how much people actually care,” she said.

Community organizing efforts

“We have to sacrifice our peace, our resources and our health for fewer permanent jobs than a grocery store,” said Shauna Fenn. She said she encouraged residents in the “Stop the data center on Taylor lane” Facebook page to show up and speak out.

“The pollution, the noise. It’s such a quiet community out there in the Ross area. That’s all going to be disturbed and it’s not going to be the same once this data center is built so we want to stop it in its tracks,” Fenn said.

The site is in Waco’s extraterritorial jurisdiction, meaning the project would be the biggest taxpayer in McLennan County and would also pay millions of dollars a year in taxes to Connally ISD and McLennan Community College.

Beechner disagreed with the tax benefits. “I think they’re going to get into some sort of disagreement and that no one is going to get that money,” she said.

Lacy Lakeview Mayor Charles Wilson said he hopes to see the project break ground sometime next year. Residents against the project say they’re meeting Sunday at the Ross fire station to organize.

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