IOWA COLONY, Texas – Iowa Colony City Council is set to discuss a resolution opposing data centers at its July 20 meeting in city council chambers, as residents and officials raise concerns about the impact on water, electricity and quality of life in the small city just south of Houston.
Data centers — large facilities that store, process and manage digital information for cloud services, AI systems, businesses and government operations — have become a hot topic in and around Houston. Iowa Colony, a rapidly growing city in Brazoria County about 20 to 30 minutes south of the metro, is taking what officials describe as preventative measures.
Residents speak out
Some residents said they want nothing to do with a data center nearby. Many describe Iowa Colony as a hidden gem and a great place to raise a family — and fear a data center could disrupt that.
Julia Scott, who moved to the area about a year ago with her family, says she is against the idea.
“I mean, at least they are weighing options, but it is definitely not something that I want in our community, just because we have limited space out here, and there is a lot of housing and stuff, and just other businesses I would rather have that,” Scott said.
Council’s concerns
Iowa Colony is not alone in its concerns. In June 2026, Brazoria County Judge Matt Sebesta and the Commissioners Court unanimously passed a resolution imposing strict conditions on future data center development — citing electricity demand, water usage, noise, drainage and long-term community impacts.
The county’s resolution now requires developers to provide independent impact studies, engineered noise-reduction systems, closed-loop cooling to minimize water use, grid capacity verification and enhanced flood mitigation standards.
Public hearings and community-benefit agreements are also mandatory.
Water resources at the forefront
Research by Arielle Price with Texas Leadership Pipeline shows a data center could bring an economic boost through construction jobs, increased tax revenue and attraction of related businesses. However, the research also points to significant drawbacks — limited long-term employment after construction, large tax incentives that may reduce net revenue and high land use that could limit other development opportunities.
The high demand for electricity, cooling systems and land is something the city said it cannot stand behind — for now. Data centers can require millions of gallons of water per day for cooling systems alone, according to the research.
For Murray, the water issue stood out most.
“For me, it was the water. We already know that we have to fix, working on things that is water related, in every county, and so when somebody is getting ready to touch that resource, we have to make sure we preserve it the best way we know how,” Murray said.
Murray added the city’s infrastructure must also be considered.
“What we are trying to do is make sure our capital improvements are up to par … and that would affect that,” Murray said.