Leon County

A recently released wildlife habitat assessment for the proposed BT Kahla Data Center project in western Leon County raises several environmental concerns that have not been widely discussed publicly. The review, conducted for the project developer and evaluated by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), identifies multiple protected species and sensitive habitats on the property. The report does not block the project outright. But it makes clear that the land proposed for development is far from an empty field. ...

Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are arriving in Leon County. At least four facilities have been approved or proposed countywide, with at least two slated for ESD3. This page collects the key resources residents, first responders, and local officials need to understand the safety landscape — including what Texas law says about county oversight authority. Texas Regulatory Resources Texas Department of Insurance — State Fire Marshal’s Office BESS Safety FAQ — covers NFPA 855 requirements, thermal runaway, fire detection, suppression standards, and emergency planning obligations for facility operators in Texas. ...

Michael, Ann, and Daniel catch up on two weeks of news: the 391 Planning Commission launch, Pecan Solar & BESS breaking ground on Hwy 3, a quiet reinvestment zone approval in Robertson County, Van Zandt’s moratorium holding strong, and Grimes County learning about a massive data center with one phone call.

One of our county commissioners recently toured a data center campus in Allen, Texas that is approximately 50 megawatts in size. I was not present for that tour, and I have only heard second-hand accounts. So rather than attributing specific statements, I want to frame this carefully: If a commissioner believes that a proposed 1,500+ megawatt data center and energy complex in Leon County would be “no big deal” based on a visit to a 50 megawatt facility, that belief is based on a flawed comparison. ...

If Leon County is going to host large-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS), hyperscale data centers, or major solar projects, one thing must be non-negotiable: Developers must prove compliance with nationally recognized fire and life-safety standards before approvals, abatements, or construction proceed. These standards already exist. The question is whether Leon County will require them. This post provides: The specific national fire codes that apply to BESS and data centers Direct links so anyone can verify them A practical explanation of how enforcement works in rural counties A clarification of misinformation being spread about fire codes and small businesses Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) NFPA 855 — Installation of Stationary Energy Storage Systems NFPA 855 is the primary U.S. standard written specifically for stationary energy storage systems, including lithium-ion BESS. ...

Episode 3 of the Know Leon County podcast features a weekly wrap-up of the Commissioners Court meeting and the Jewett town hall, with Ann and Daniel joining the discussion.

This is the Know Leon County Weekly Wrap-Up, a regular update to share what happened this week and what’s coming next regarding the proposed data center and battery storage projects in Leon County. Community Organizing Updates This week, the team that runs the Citizens Against Marquez Data and Storage Center Facebook group met to prepare for two upcoming public events: The Commissioners Court meeting on Monday, January 12 The Town Hall meeting in Jewett on Tuesday, January 13 During that meeting, we discussed who would be speaking and which topics would be covered. We also reviewed the informational handbooks that will be handed out at the town hall. ...

In this first episode of the Know Leon County podcast, I walk through how we first learned about the proposed data center and battery storage projects in Leon County. I cover: How the initial Amazon rumor started What research showed (and didn’t show) Discovering the Kahla Data Center and Storage projects A phone call with the County Judge that revealed four total projects How residents organized quickly to share information Where to go to stay informed as this continues Watch Episode 1 Prefer to watch on YouTube? You can also view the episode directly on YouTube here: 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZ3E88NIAp4 ...