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A community resource for learning about the proposed Pacifico AI Data Center Project and how you can get involved in protecting the Earth Native Campus and the Bastrop and Cedar Creek Community from this massive AI data center
What Is Being Proposed?
Pacifico is proposing to build what has been described as one of the largest AI data center campuses in Texas, along with a large natural gas power plant, immediately adjacent to the Earth Native Wilderness School campus on the Wallace Ranch in Cedar Creek.
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HELP PROTECT CEDAR CREEK
​Why We Are Concerned
We believe a project of this scale, with the potential to affect so many people and located so close to Bastrop, deserves careful public scrutiny. Many residents are only now learning about the project, leaving little time to understand it and participate in decisions that could affect our community for generations.
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To our knowledge, even though Pacifico has been planning this project for quite some time we are not aware of them making any meaningful outreach to neighboring landowners or the broader Bastrop community before moving forward with permit applications. We believe projects of this magnitude should involve early, transparent communication with the people who will live alongside them.
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The Wallace Ranch property is startlingly close to Bastrop and lies just a few miles from downtown Bastrop. Cedar Creek, a beautiful spring-fed stream, flows directly through the property. The creek supports abundant wildlife, provides important habitat, and is part of a sensitive watershed that many residents care deeply about. The area is also underlain by the Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer system, an important source of drinking water for many Bastrop County residents. We believe any project of this scale warrants careful evaluation of its potential effects on local water resources.
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While the extent of these impacts has not yet been fully determined for this project, we believe the following issues deserve careful evaluation before public incentives are approved:
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Reduction in air quality from the proposed natural gas power plant
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Constant noise from data center operations and power generation
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Light pollution
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Large amounts of local water use for system cooling
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Stormwater runoff and increased flooding resulting from large areas of new impervious cover
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Impacts to wildlife habitat and migration corridors
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The permanent conversion of thousands of acres of Central Texas ranchland into industrial development
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Effects on nearby neighborhoods, businesses, schools and educational programs, including Earth Native Wilderness School
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We are not opposed to responsible economic development. However, we believe projects of this size should move forward only after a thorough, transparent review that fully considers their long-term impacts on our community, our natural resources, and our quality of life.
Why This Matters Right Now
There is a short window that we can use to act to try to divert this project. Pacifico is still in the permitting process and we have heard that they have not settled on Bastrop as the definitive location for their data center. Please take a few minutes to let our local and state officials know how we feel about this data center and ask them to intervene. Pacifico is applying for huge tax breaks with local and state government and has stated that the outcome of these tax breaks may ultimately be a determining factor in their decision whether or not to select the Bastrop site. We believe decisions on these tax incentives could be made as early as September, making the next several weeks especially important.
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We also need to call on Governor Abbott to immediately call a special legislative session to address the lack of AI data center regulation and ask him to deny tax breaks for Pacifico. Texans should not have to use our tax dollars to prop up these multi-billion dollar companies!
How You Can Help
Even if you only have five minutes, sending a couple quick emails or making 1-2 phone calls can and will make a real difference.
If you're willing to help, here are a few simple ways you can make a difference.
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For Everyone
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1. Contact Governor Greg Abbott
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Please respectfully ask Governor Abbott to:
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Call a special legislative session so lawmakers can establish reasonable safeguards for large AI data center projects before additional projects move forward.
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Ask the Governor to decline state tax incentives for the Bastrop County Pacifico project (this is something that is within his power).
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Contact the Governor
Phone: 512-463-2000
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For All Texas Residents
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2. Contact Your State Representative and State Senator
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Please ask your State Representative and State Senator to encourage Governor Abbott to call a special legislative session and to oppose state tax incentives for the Bastrop County Pacifico project.
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Find your legislators at the link below:
https://wrm.capitol.texas.gov/home
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For Bastrop County Residents
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3. Contact the Bastrop ISD Board of Trustees
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If you live within Bastrop ISD, please respectfully ask the Board of Trustees to vote against approving a JETI tax break agreement for the Pacifico project. The Board's decision will play an important role in determining whether this project receives substantial property tax incentives, making this one of the most important opportunities for local citizens to have their voices heard.
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Bastrop ISD Board of Trustees
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Chris M. Dillon
President, Place 5
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Dr. Matthew Mix
Vice President, Place 6
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Priscilla Ruiz
Secretary, Place 4
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Carol A. Armstrong
Trustee, Place 1
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Kellye Seekatz
Trustee, Place 2
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Josh Coy
Trustee, Place 3
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Ashley Mutschink
Trustee, Place 7
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4. Contact the Bastrop County Commissioners Court
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Please respectfully ask the Commissioners to oppose county tax abatements or other public incentives for the Pacifico project.
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County Judge Gregory Klaus
gregory.klaus@co.bastrop.tx.us
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Commissioner Butch Carmack
charles.carmack@co.bastrop.tx.us
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Commissioner Clara Beckett
clara.beckett@co.bastrop.tx.us
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Commissioner Mark Meuth
mark.meuth@co.bastrop.tx.us
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Commissioner David Glass
david.glass@co.bastrop.tx.us
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5. Contact your State Senator and Representative
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Stan Gerdes
Texas House Representative, District 17
Austin office: 512-463-0682
Bastrop office: 512-321-3720
Charles Schwertner
State Senator, District 5
Austin office: 512-463-0105
Georgetown office: 512-863-8456
Charles.Schwertner@senate.texas.gov
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Email Template to Governor Abbott
Subject: Call a Special Session to Pause New AI Data Center Approvals
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Dear Governor Abbott,
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I am writing as a concerned Texan regarding the rapid expansion of massive AI data center projects across our state, including the proposed Pacifico AI data center campus near Bastrop.
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I support responsible economic development. However, projects of this unprecedented scale deserve careful review before they permanently transform our communities, natural resources, and rural way of life.
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I respectfully urge you to call a Special Session of the Texas Legislature to address the explosive growth of AI data centers across Texas.
I also respectfully request that you deny any state tax incentives for the proposed Pacifico AI Data Center in Bastrop County.
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Specifically, I ask that you call for a temporary pause on approvals for any new AI data center projects that are not already under construction until the Legislature reconvenes in January and has the opportunity to enact common-sense regulations that protect Texas communities while continuing to encourage responsible economic development.
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The proposed Pacifico project has raised significant concerns among many Bastrop County residents regarding potential impacts to groundwater, air quality, noise, light pollution, wildlife habitat, stormwater runoff, rural communities, and existing local businesses and schools. These concerns are not unique to Bastrop. Communities across Texas are raising similar questions as increasingly larger AI data center projects are proposed.
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Texas has always embraced innovation and private investment, but projects of this magnitude should not move forward faster than our laws can adapt. Communities deserve reasonable protections, meaningful public input, and clear statewide standards before thousands of acres of productive Texas agricultural land are permanently converted into industrial AI campuses.
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I respectfully ask that the Special Session consider legislation to:
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Temporarily pause approvals for new AI data center projects that are not already under construction until the Legislature establishes a comprehensive regulatory framework.
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Establish statewide standards for environmental review, groundwater protection, air quality, stormwater management, noise mitigation, and public transparency.
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Ensure neighboring landowners and local communities receive meaningful notice and opportunities for public input before major AI data center projects are approved.
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Eliminate taxpayer-funded incentives for AI data center projects until these protections are in place and projects have demonstrated clear long-term benefits to the communities in which they are proposed.
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Texas has an opportunity to become the national leader in responsible AI infrastructure. That leadership should include protecting our water, our land, our rural communities, private property rights, and the Texans who live beside these massive developments.
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I respectfully ask you to take immediate action by calling a Special Session to address this issue before additional large-scale AI data center projects receive approval.
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Thank you for your service to Texas and for your consideration.
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Respectfully,
[Your Name]
[City], Texas
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Email Template to Senator/Representative
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Subject: Please Urge Governor Abbott to Call a Special Session on AI Data Centers
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Dear Senator/Representative [Last Name],
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I am writing as a concerned Texan regarding the rapid expansion of massive AI data center projects across our state, including the proposed Pacifico AI data center campus near Bastrop.
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I support responsible economic development. However, projects of this unprecedented scale deserve careful review before they permanently transform our communities, natural resources, and rural way of life.
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I respectfully urge you to publicly call on Governor Abbott to convene a Special Session of the Texas Legislature to address the explosive growth of AI data centers across Texas.
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I also ask that you support legislation to temporarily pause approvals for new AI data center projects that are not already under construction until the Legislature has the opportunity to establish common-sense regulations that protect Texas communities while continuing to encourage responsible economic development.
​
The proposed Pacifico project has raised significant concerns among many Bastrop County residents regarding potential impacts to groundwater, air quality, noise, light pollution, wildlife habitat, stormwater runoff, rural communities, and existing local businesses and schools. These concerns are not unique to Bastrop. Communities across Texas are asking many of the same questions as increasingly larger AI data center projects are proposed.
​
Texas has always embraced innovation and private investment, but projects of this magnitude should not move forward faster than our laws can adapt. Communities deserve reasonable protections, meaningful public input, and clear statewide standards before thousands of acres of productive Texas agricultural land are permanently converted into industrial AI campuses.
​
I respectfully ask that you support legislation to:
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Encourage Governor Abbott to call a Special Session to address AI data center development before additional large-scale projects receive approval.
-
Temporarily pause approvals for new AI data center projects that are not already under construction until the Legislature establishes a comprehensive regulatory framework.
-
Establish statewide standards for environmental review, groundwater protection, air quality, stormwater management, noise mitigation, and public transparency.
-
Ensure neighboring landowners and local communities receive meaningful notice and opportunities for public input before major AI data center projects are approved.
-
Eliminate taxpayer-funded incentives for AI data center projects until these protections are in place and projects have demonstrated clear long-term benefits to the communities in which they are proposed.
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Texas has an opportunity to become the national leader in responsible AI infrastructure. That leadership should include protecting our water, our land, our rural communities, private property rights, and the Texans who live beside these massive developments.
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I respectfully ask that you make this issue a priority, publicly encourage Governor Abbott to call a Special Session, and support legislation that ensures AI data center development proceeds responsibly and transparently.
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Thank you for your service to Texas and for your consideration.
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Respectfully,
[Your Name]
[City], Texas