Taylor Council Approves Data Center Campus
After two hours of public comment, most of it opposing the project, the Taylor City Council voted 5-0 Thursday to approve a development agreement for the Taylor Technology Campus.
The deal brings the 664-acre data center and power plant development, formerly known as Project Mustang, into city limits.
FULL VIDEO OF LAST NIGHT’S MEETING & VOTE
The campus is proposed by Big Watt Digital and PowerHouse Data Centers on land east of Taylor, between FM 112 and U.S. 79.
It will include data center facilities and on-site power generation intended to meet its own electricity needs. The site sits in unincorporated Williamson County, where the city has no regulatory authority.
Council members and city staff said annexation lets Taylor impose and enforce rules on water use, noise, setbacks and lighting. According to city officials, the campus must use a closed-loop cooling system filled with reclaimed water, with no potable water permitted.
Mayor Jim Buzan said the terms are the best path forward for Taylor and the surrounding area, and that the regulations address community concerns. Big Watt told Axios that continuing to work directly with the city reflects its commitment to being a responsible community partner.
The developers withdrew their original annexation and zoning application in early September to negotiate stricter standards with the city.
Opposition has been persistent.
The group Halt Taylor Data Centers urged the council to reject the deal, and organizer Carrie D’Anna said the city should first create a “digital infrastructure zone” with umbrella rules for data centers rather than a patchwork of individual agreements. In July, residents submitted a petition with about 1,400 signatures seeking a ballot measure against data centers, but the council ruled it ineligible.
Supporters point to economic benefits.
In addition to these binding regulations, the developers are committing $28.2 million for community investments and nonprofit support, including:
- $13 million to the City of Taylor for quality-of-life improvements, including at least $750,000 for the design and construction of adaptive-use improvements at City parks for individuals with disabilities.
- $10.2 million to Taylor ISD educational programs.
- $1.5 million for Taylor ISD student higher education scholarships.
- $1 million for Taylor ISD for Career and Technical Education and workforce development, along with at least 20 student internships annually for three years.
- $1 million to the City for animal care program support to strengthen resources and services for animal welfare in the community.
- Initial grants of $150,000 each to the Taylor Education Enrichment Foundation and the Boys & Girls Club of East Williamson County.
- Additional annual nonprofit contributions totaling $1.2 million over 10 years.
Tax Benefit
The projected $1.38 billion in gross tax revenue generated by the project over 20 years could also provide the City with additional resources to invest in critical community priorities, including:
- Street and sidewalk repairs
- Public safety
- Infrastructure improvements
- Other essential City services.
The additional revenue could also provide an opportunity to reduce the City’s property tax rate, helping to lower the overall tax burden on residents and businesses.
A commissioned report cited by Bisnow projects $1.4 billion in gross tax revenue for Taylor from 2027 to 2046, plus 320 full-time jobs and about 19,350 temporary jobs.
The vote adds to a series of data center approvals in the city of about 18,500 people, including a 220-acre campus near Samsung’s chip plant approved in March.
Statewide, Gov. Greg Abbott has temporarily halted new grid connections and state environmental approvals for data centers. It is unclear how that will affect the Taylor project, though Big Watt has said its campus would use dedicated on-site power rather than the grid.
Sources:
- Taylor Press, report on the Oct. 8, 2026 council vote (details as provided; link not verified).
- KUT, “Taylor has struck a deal on a nearby data center, allowing it to annex the site and set conditions,” Oct. 2, 2026. https://www.kut.org/energy-environment/2026-10-02/taylor-annexing-data-center-development
- Axios Austin, “Texas town looks to strike data center bargain,” Oct. 7, 2026. https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/10/07/data-center-taylor-austin-big-watt-digital-powerhouse
- Bisnow, “Austin Suburb Set To Decide On Annexation, Zoning For Data Center Campus.” https://www.bisnow.com/news/austin-san-antonio/data-center/taylor-deciding-annexation-zoning-data-center-campus-powerhouse
- CBS Austin, “Taylor Planning Commission tables data center proposal for 90 days after pushback.” https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/taylor-planning-commission-tables-data-center-proposal-for-90-days-after-pushback
- Data Center Dynamics, “360MW data center to be built outside Austin, Texas.” https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/360mw-data-center-to-be-built-outside-austin-texas/
Blue Origin is coming to Hutto.
Mayor Mike Snyder announced that the aerospace company will invest nearly $1 billion in the city and create 2,000 high-skilled, high-paying jobs.
Blue Origin will occupy the existing buildings along Highway 79 near Lowe’s, Snider said. The City Council is already working on final designs for frontage roads along State Highway 130 and for improvements to Alliance Boulevard, Innovation Boulevard, Limmer Loop and Ed Schmidt Boulevard. Construction on all of those projects is expected to begin within the next one to two years.
Hutto Mayor Mike Snyder:
“Between Blue Origin, Sprouts, Longhorns, Olive Garden and other businesses along 130, we are able to upgrade the roadway system to handle all of the additional traffic without costing taxpayers more money.
Thanks to the members of Council and the EDC who supported this project. The people that will work here will also be supporting our local businesses during lunch hours, after work deals and more.
We’ve been working hard to bring big time jobs to Hutto and this is a big one!”
After torrential downpours turned Zilker Park into a swampy, mud-slicked obstacle course during Weekend 1 of the Austin City Limits Music Festival, thousands of music fans are returning today for Weekend 2—facing a completely different battle against the elements.
With high temperatures climbing into the upper 80s and clear, dry conditions forecasted through Sunday, the mud that delayed gates and chewed up the Great Lawn last week is rapidly baking under the Texas sun.
Now, as tens of thousands of boots hit the newly dried ground, festivalgoers and organizers alike are left asking: will Weekend 2 turn Zilker Park into Austin’s newest dust bowl?
Is “the ACL flu” a real thing?
Passenger traffic at Austin’s airport is high today as concertgoers arrive in town.
Austin City Council met Thursday.
Nearly every item passed. Most were approved on consent, and a few were approved after discussion or amendment. One item was removed, and the Executive Session and some AHFC and procedural items were simply conducted.
Consent Agenda Approvals
Administrative and governance
- Approved the September 10, 2026 minutes (Item 1).
- Appointed nominees to the Rally Austin board (Item 2) and reappointed Jolsna Thomas to the Civil Service Commission (Item 16).
- Approved board and commission appointments (Item 21).
- Approved a Travis County interlocal agreement on preserving cultural and historical resources (Item 19), with a five-year term ending October 31, 2031.
- Approved an interlocal agreement with the Capital Area Council of Governments to maintain the 9-1-1 GIS database, which brings in $659,372 in revenue (Item 20).
Financial and policy
- Added $2M to the Rally Austin interlocal agreement, for a total not to exceed $60,355,260 (Item 3).
- Adopted the FY 2026-27 Investment Policy (Item 4).
Contracts (Items 5-15, 35)
| Item | Contract | Vendor | Not-to-exceed total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Sex Crimes Response Model project management (Police) | Hanna Senko LLC | $576,000 |
| 6 | Rutland/Parkfield Roundabout construction | Muniz Concrete & Contracting | $1,434,265 |
| 7 | Acadis law enforcement training software | Envisage Technologies | $1,280,000 |
| 8 | Athletic fields maintenance | Texas Multi-Chem | $1,625,000 |
| 9 | ATX Floods application | Sanborn Map Company | $1,212,200 |
| 10 | Fire cadet hiring | Morris & McDaniel | $1,200,000 |
| 11 | Service awards (two vendors) | Crown Awards and MTM Recognition | $610,000 (divided between the two) |
| 12 | Certification and compliance software | B2Gnow | $815,000 |
| 13 | Ethics electronic filing system | RFD & Associates | $1,237,500 |
| 14 | Imperva cybersecurity software support | GTS Technology Solutions | $2,250,000 |
| 15 | VMware licenses and support | GTS Technology Solutions | $31,650,000 |
| 35 | Workers’ compensation administration | Tristar | $11,080,000 |
Council-sponsored items
- Directed the City Manager to develop updated Construction Training Program requirements for projects over $10M (Item 22).
- Initiated rezoning of the MACC Pocket Park for parks and recreation use (Item 23).
- Directed the City Manager to incorporate a six-year bond cycle in bond-program development beginning FY 2027-28 (Item 36).
Election ordinances (Items 32-34)
- Amended the ordinances for the November 3, 2026 general obligation bond election, the City Council election (Districts 1, 3, 5, 8 and 9), and the charter amendment special election. The amendments update polling places, early voting schedules and election contracts.
Items Approved After Discussion
- Item 17: The 2027 Council meeting schedule and FY 2027-28 budget and tax rate meetings were approved as amended.
- Items 24 and 25: Eminent domain proceedings were approved for Walnut Creek Eubank Tributary stabilization easements. The properties are at 11630 N. Lamar (appraised at $50,548) and 11704 N. Lamar (appraised at $27,604).
- Item 27: Approved the Elm Ridge Apartments development at 1190 Airport Blvd, to be partly financed through private activity bonds.
Zoning (Items 28-31)
- Item 28: 400 W. 37th St. (James Harvey and Pearl Caldwell House), approved for historic landmark zoning.
- Item 29: 1120 and 1122 S. Capital of Texas Hwy, approved as amended. A valid opposition petition had been filed.
- Item 30: Doris Miller Auditorium, approved for historic landmark zoning.
- Item 31: 1900 Rosewood Block, approved for a density bonus rezoning.
Austin Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) Board
- AHFC002: Approved issuing up to $33M in multifamily housing revenue bonds for Elm Ridge Apartments.
- AHFC003: Approved extending the G.O. Repair! home repair contracts to September 30, 2028 and adding $10M, for a total not to exceed $32M (the document’s figure reads “$32,000,00”, which looks like a typo).
- AHFC001 (minutes) and AHFC004 (public hearing on the bonds) were conducted.
Other
- Item 18 was removed.
- Item 26 (AHFC meeting recess) was conducted.
- Item 37: The Executive Session on Levins et al. v. City of Austin, a legal challenge to a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone, was conducted in private consultation with legal counsel. No public action was recorded.
Austin police are asking for the public’s help to identify a white pickup truck involved in a hit-and-run that injured a pedestrian in downtown Austin late last month.
According to detectives with the APD Highway Enforcement Investigations Unit, the crash occurred around 11:20 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 1, at the intersection of West Cesar Chavez and Colorado streets. Emergency responders transported the victim to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. (Austin Police Department)
APD has arrested three people in connection with an aggravated robbery that occurred on 6th Street last month.
Hays County authorities arrested a Kyle man wanted on multiple charges.
Caldwell County authorities discovered dozens of old tires dumped along a roadside south of Lockhart near US 183.
ICE activity reported Thursday.
Someone attempted to flee from an immigration detention by running through the parking lot at the corner of William Cannon and Interstate 35.
Dessau and Howard Lane:
From Hays County:
“Hays County Facilities and Resource Management is aware of reports concerning possible U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity on Hays County-owned property. Based on information currently available to the department, Facilities and Resource Management has not received notification from ICE regarding the use of County-owned property for enforcement operations or related activities.”
From Zavala County:
Williamson County officials announced a $7 million in federal funding for Corridor A2, a new road connection between FM 3349 and SH 95 south of Taylor.
THIS WEEKEND IN THE ATX
WEATHER
THURSDAY’S HIGH /LOW TEMPERATURES
AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
CAMP MABRY
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
Hurricane Isaias, the first of the 2026 Atlantic season, strengthened to a Category 3 storm early Friday morning as it heads toward the northern Gulf Coast. It is forecast to make landfall tonight or early Saturday, threatening parts of Mississippi, Alabama and the western part of the Florida Panhandle.
Democrat Gina Hinojosa is challenging Gov. Greg Abbott with a campaign centered on household costs, public education and concerns about expanding data centers, seeking to win over voters beyond her party’s base.
(Episode from October 7, 2026)
Host Jeremy Wallace is joined by Gromer Jeffers Jr. of The Dallas Morning News as the state enters the final stretch before early voting. They break down Donald Trump’s fourth Texas visit in six weeks, what it means for Ken Paxton, and the unusual campaign ad featuring Paxton’s estranged wife, Angela. They also look at whether Democrats can finally break through statewide, and what the polls might be getting wrong. Plus, Paxton gets the Saturday Night Live treatment, and Eagles legend Don Henley puts serious money behind Democrats trying to flip Texas.
(Episode from October 8, 2026)
Plans to live stream the execution of a former Fort Hood army major who killed more than a dozen people in a mass military shooting have been branded “barbaric” and “deeply disturbing”.
An investigation into Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s travel records has revealed that state taxpayers footed a tens-of-thousands-of-dollars bill for state police escorts on at least 17 personal trips over a three-month span—including visits to resort destinations in Vail, Colorado, and Park City, Utah, as well as property holdings in Oklahoma. The revelations follow the Republican U.S. Senate candidate’s acquittal on state impeachment charges by the Texas Senate. (Texas Tribune)
Meanwhile, Texas Republican leaders and high-profile conservatives have seized on a 12-day absence from the public campaign trail by Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Rep. James Talarico, casting doubt on his explanation that he is recovering from a severe bout of the flu.
The Republican line of attack escalated sharply when former President Donald Trump declared Talarico “MISSING IN ACTION” on Truth Social. Republican opponent Ken Paxton’s campaign joined in by circulating mock missing-person flyers across the state and raising doubts about the length of Talarico’s sick leave.
A Pflugerville resident just claimed a $1 million top prize from the Texas Lottery’s Ultimate Millions scratch-off game.
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Final scores from high school football games played across the Austin area on Thursday night:
- Westlake 57, Round Rock Westwood 0
- Dripping Springs 41, Austin High 3
- Bowie 36, Buda Hays 6
Note: Scheduled matchups such as LASA vs. Navarro and Crockett vs. Bastrop were either rescheduled or played at the sub-varsity level on Thursday ahead of varsity action.
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
District 25-6A & Local 6A
- Stony Point at McNeil— 7:00 PM
- Lake Travis at Del Valle — 7:30 PM
- Cedar Ridge at Vandegrift— 7:00 PM
- Round Rock at Hutto — 7:00 PM
District 12-5A & Area 5A
- Pflugerville at McCallum — 7:00 PM
- Rouse at Georgetown — 7:00 PM
- East View at Cedar Park — 7:00 PM
- LBJ Austin at Austin Achieve — 7:00 PM
- Anderson at Hendrickson — 7:00 PM
- Weiss at Hays — 7:30 PM
- Liberty Hill at Elgin — 7:30 PM
Area 4A / 3A / Private Schools
- Wimberley at Salado — 7:30 PM
- Lago Vista at Gonzales — 7:30 PM
- Navarro at Jarrell — 7:30 PM
- Episcopal at St. Stephen’s / Hill Country Christian — 7:00 PM
NFL: Bucky Irving ran for 165 yards, including a 72-yard run to set up the touchdown that put Tampa Bay ahead for good while scoring twice himself, and the Buccaneers beat the Cowboys 24-16 on Thursday night. (Associated Press)
NEXT FOR THE COWBOYS
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18
NBA: The San Antonio Spurs opened the preseason with a 123-116 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday, blowing a 19-point first-quarter lead. (Sports Illustrated)
The Lone Star State rivalry takes the global stage this morning as the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets tipped off the 2026 NBA China Games at The Venetian Arena.
FINAL SCORE
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: The Texas Longhorns search for offensive spark as Red River Rivalry showdown with Oklahoma Sooners looms. Can Arch Manning guide Texas past Brent Venables’ aggressive defense and break through Oklahoma’s dominant secondary?
More retro Austin.
This time, we go back to the 1970s, before CapMetro existed, there was Austin Public Transit.
