The Data Center Divide
A policy snapshot ahead of the 2026 midterms. Mapping data center incentives, restrictions, and bans through legislation, regulations, and executive actions across all 50 states and 1,462 local jurisdictions.
Johnson County
Neutral Data Center Policies
Johnson County’s enacted resolution urges Texas officials to study and consider future data-center rules, especially safeguards against water-intensive cooling, but imposes no enforceable project requirements.
current law · County measureThis nonbinding resolution supports responsible data-center development but opposes open-loop evaporative cooling and other high-volume potable-water technologies, and calls for enforceable safeguards concerning grid reliability, water use, infrastructure, farmland, habitats, and community impacts.Johnson County Commissioners Court Resolution 2026-08 – Enhanced Regulation of Data Centers (2026)
What this means
The resolution does not itself ban or require changes to data center projects; it asks state officials to consider future rules and studies. Its opposition to water-intensive cooling and support for safeguards states the county’s position, but does not create enforceable project requirements (urges the State of Texas and relevant regulatory agencies).
People behind it
- Johnson County Judge’s Office
Identified as the department responsible for presenting Resolution 2026-08.
- Christopher Boedeker
Johnson County Judge who presented and read the resolution to the Commissioners Court.
- Larry Woolley
Commissioner who moved to approve Resolution 2026-08.
Show 1 more peopleShow fewer people
- Mike White
Commissioner who seconded the motion to approve Resolution 2026-08.
Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements6
Opposes large-scale data centers in Johnson County and other water-constrained regions that use open-loop evaporative cooling or other technologies consuming high volumes of potable water.
Conditions support for additional data center development on comprehensive, enforceable safeguards protecting electric-grid reliability, water resources, agricultural and ecologically sensitive land, public infrastructure, public health, and environmental quality.
Calls for full public reporting of a proposed data center’s anticipated electricity demand, water usage, and infrastructure impacts before final approval.
States that no future data center project should proceed without an independent assessment of grid and transmission impacts, regional water availability and drought planning, land and habitat impacts, taxpayer-funded infrastructure costs, and effects on surrounding land uses.
Encourages statewide standards requiring or prioritizing water-efficient or closed-loop cooling, reclaimed or non-potable water where feasible, and demand-response or load-management participation to protect grid stability.
Requests legislation giving counties and municipalities meaningful authority and participation in land-use decisions, infrastructure planning, and resource-impact review for large-scale data center developments.
Sources
Data provided by Regbase · Cookie preferences · Report missing data