--- title: "Data Center: News, Information & Resource Center for San Antonio" url: https://www.heresanantonio.com/data-center-san-antonio-tx/ date: 2026-11-06T04:49:39-06:00 modified: 2026-11-06T04:49:39-06:00 author: "" site: "HERE San Antonio" attribution: "HERE San Antonio" --- # Data Center: News, Information & Resource Center for San Antonio > Data centers near San Antonio: who decides — zoning, council, the Public Utility Commission of Texas — plus news and official links from HERE San Antonio. *Source: [HERE San Antonio](https://www.heresanantonio.com/data-center-san-antonio-tx/) — November 6, 2026 by * [Home](https://www.heresanantonio.com/)›[Politics](https://www.heresanantonio.com/politics-san-antonio-tx/)›Data Center Resource CenterSan Antonio TX Politics & Government · Politics of Data # Data Center: News, Information & Resource Center for San Antonio Who decides where data centers go near San Antonio — **zoning and planning**, the **local elected board**, the **county**, the **state utility commission**, and **environmental permits** — plus what is on file and reporting from across the HERE network. Zoning & PlanningCity CouncilCountyUtility CommissionPermitsGrid Politics of Data ## Who Decides on Data Centers Near San Antonio DATA CENTER: NEWS, INFORMATION & RESOURCE CENTER FOR SAN ANTONIO HERE San Antonio has been following data-center decisions that reach San Antonio — the stories are below, along with every official body that would have a say. A data center in or near San Antonio would first need local land-use approval through City of San Antonio, and Bexar County weighs in on land outside city limits and on tax incentives. The Public Utility Commission of Texas is the state utility regulator; it reviews rates and large-customer power contracts for the utilities it oversees. ERCOT and the Public Utility Commission of Texas set the rules for connecting large new loads to the Texas grid. Air and water permits come from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. **National context:** Federal energy researchers estimate data centers used about 4.4% of all U.S. electricity in 2023 and could use 6.7% to 12% by 2028, which is why utility commissions, local boards, and voters are now central to where these campuses land. [U.S. Department of Energy report](https://www.energy.gov/articles/doe-releases-new-report-evaluating-increase-electricity-demand-data-centers) ### What’s on file near San Antonio - **On file so far**No local data-center campus vote is on file for San Antonio yet; here is HERE San Antonio's reporting so far. ### HERE San Antonio data center coverage - ●From HERE San AntonioOct 30, 2026 · TX #### New Data Centers Need Council Approval in San Antonio SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Every new data center proposed inside San Antonio will now need a public hearing and a City Council vote. Council members approved… ### Who decides: zoning, councils, utility regulators & permits #### Zoning & Planning - [**City of San Antonio**City council and planning commission: rezonings, site plans, and development agreements→](https://www.sa.gov/) #### County - [**Bexar County**County land use outside city limits and votes on tax incentives for large projects→](https://www.bexar.org/) #### State Utility Regulator - [**Public Utility Commission of Texas**State utility regulator; reviews rates and large-customer power contracts for the utilities it oversees→](https://www.puc.texas.gov/) #### Electric Utility - [**CPS Energy**Electric utility serving the area; negotiates service for large new customers→](https://www.cpsenergy.com/) #### Environmental, Water & Air Permits - [**Texas Commission on Environmental Quality**Issues air, water, and wastewater permits for large facilities→](https://www.tceq.texas.gov/) #### Regional Grid Operator - [**Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT)**Runs the regional grid and studies requests to connect large new loads→](https://www.ercot.com/) ### From across the HERE network - ●From HERE RaleighNov 3, 2026 · NC #### Raleigh Data Center Expansion Slips in Ahead of Moratorium RALEIGH, N.C. — A planned data center expansion in west Raleigh will be reviewed under the city’s old rules because the application landed four days before… - ●From HERE NashvilleNov 2, 2026 · TN #### Tennessee Data Centers Spread as Towns Push Back NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee now has somewhere between 60 and 65 data centers in operation, and a growing list of local governments wants to slow down… - ●From HERE SavannahNov 2, 2026 · GA #### OpenAI Data Center Plan Up for Vote Tuesday in Springfield SPRINGFIELD, Ga. — Effingham County commissioners meeting in Springfield, Ga., are scheduled to decide Tuesday evening whether to approve site plans for Project Camellia, the large… - ●From HERE LansingOct 31, 2026 · MI #### Delhi Township Board Votes Against Proposed Holt Data Center DELHI TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Three days after regional developers floated a giant data center for Delhi Township, the township board voted 6-0 Friday night to go… - ●From HERE LansingOct 29, 2026 · MI #### Delhi Township Quits LEAP a Day After $10B Data Center Pitch DELHI TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Delhi Township has walked away from the Lansing Economic Area Partnership, ending its membership Wednesday, just one day after the regional economic… - ●From HERE Oklahoma CityOct 29, 2026 · OK #### Council Clears Rezoning for Data Center in Oklahoma City OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — A large data center planned on the west side of Oklahoma City, Okla., cleared a key hurdle Tuesday, when the City Council… - ●From HERE SavannahOct 29, 2026 · GA #### Savannah Opens Survey on Data Center Zoning Rules SAVANNAH, Ga. — Savannah wants to hear from the public before it writes its first local rules for data centers. On Wednesday the city posted an… - ●From HERE ColumbiaOct 27, 2026 · SC #### Data Center Rules Set to Headline SC Legislative Session COLUMBIA, S.C. — How South Carolina handles the wave of proposed data centers is shaping up as one of the biggest fights waiting for the General… - ●From HERE CharlotteOct 25, 2026 · NC #### Charlotte Council Votes Monday on Longer Data Center Pause CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte City Council is scheduled to decide Monday whether to keep its freeze on new data center development in place for most of… HERE San Antonio · Politics of Data BriefGet the data center white paper for San Antonio A plain-language briefing on who decides, what the power contracts mean for your bill, and which communities near San Antonio are next. Leave your email and HERE San Antonio will send it as soon as it is published. Building data centers, or organizing around them? Use the same form to get more information or to get your message out to San Antonio readers. Company website I am a residentLocal official or staffDeveloper or real estateUtility or energyBusiness ownerMediaOtherSend me the white paperHelp me get my message outBoth Email me the white paper and occasional HERE San Antonio updates on this issue. Unsubscribe anytime.Get the white paper / Get in touchNo spam. Industry, utility, and business inquiries go to our advertising team; everyone else joins the HERE San Antonio newsletter list. Updated weekly. Last updated Nov 6, 2026. Questions & Answers ## Data Centers Near San Antonio: FAQ ### Who approves a data center rezoning near San Antonio? Rezonings and site plans go through local land-use officials: in San Antonio that is City of San Antonio, with Bexar County handling land outside city limits and county tax incentives. Planning commissions hold public hearings and recommend; the elected board casts the final vote. ### Who approves large power contracts for data centers in Texas? The Public Utility Commission of Texas is the state utility regulator. It reviews rates and the large-customer contracts and tariffs that utilities it oversees propose for data centers. ### Which Texas agency issues environmental permits for a data center? The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality issues the air, water, and wastewater permits a large facility needs, including permits for backup generators. ### How can a San Antonio resident weigh in on a data center? Speak or submit written comments at planning commission and council or board meetings, where agendas are posted in advance, and file public comments in utility cases at the state commission. The official links on this page go straight to those bodies. ### What data center decisions are on file near San Antonio? HERE San Antonio has published recent reporting on data-center decisions affecting the area, linked on this page, including: New Data Centers Need Council Approval in San Antonio. ### Who runs the power grid serving San Antonio? Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) operates the regional grid and studies requests to connect large new loads such as data centers. HERE City Network ## Data Center Coverage Across HERE Resource centers for other HERE cities [Austin, TX](https://www.hereaustintx.com/data-center-austin-tx/)[College Station, TX](https://www.herecollegestation.com/data-center-college-station-tx/)[Dallas, TX](https://www.heredallas.com/data-center-dallas-tx/)[El Paso, TX](https://www.hereelpaso.com/data-center-el-paso-tx/)[Houston, TX](https://www.herehoustontx.com/data-center-houston-tx/)[Ann Arbor, MI](https://www.hereannarbor.com/data-center-annarbor-mi/)[Detroit, MI](https://www.heredetroitmi.com/data-center-detroit-mi/)[Grand Rapids, MI](https://www.heregrandrapids.com/data-center-grandrapids-mi/)[Lansing, MI](https://www.herelansing.com/data-center-lansing-mi/)[Northville, MI](https://www.herenorthville.com/data-center-northville-mi/)[Novi, MI](https://www.herenovi.com/data-center-novi-mi/)[Plymouth, MI](https://www.hereplymouth.com/data-center-plymouth-mi/)[Baltimore, MD](https://www.herebaltimore.com/data-center-baltimore-md/)[Cincinnati, OH](https://www.herecincinnati.com/data-center-cincinnati-oh/)[Back to San Antonio Politics & Government →](https://www.heresanantonio.com/politics-san-antonio-tx/)