Brenham, Texas just rejected a tax abatement and reinvestment zone for a new Viridien data center after heavy community pushback.
The project is relatively small by hyperscale standards, targeting roughly 45 MW at full buildout across up to three buildings, and explicitly positioned as non‑AI and non‑crypto.
Viridien committed to funding its own electrical infrastructure via Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative, with the utility stating local rates would not be affected, and to using closed‑loop cooling to limit water impact.
Residents focused less on technical specs and more on governance issues: lack of transparency, foreign ownership, and broader concerns sharpened by the post‑2022 AI infrastructure boom.
The council’s vote only blocks local tax incentives, not the build itself, and Viridien says it still intends to proceed, meaning the community will host the load without the sweetener of extra tax revenue.
For AI infra watchers, this is another signal that smaller, non‑AI, sub‑50 MW builds can still trigger political resistance, especially where communication has lagged the AI data center narrative.
The full article is worth a read for texture on how local politics, power concerns, and AI perceptions are starting to shape data center approvals.
Source: Brenham City Council rejects reinvestment zone for data center
