Next meeting 

Thursday, March 26 

Commissioners hold workshop about data centers 

As of 2026, Texas is host to more than 400 operational data centers that are used to facilitate applications ranging from artificial intelligence to simple off-site cloud storage. 

With Caldwell County poised to soon play host to a pair of them, commissioners on March 12 held a public workshop following their regular meeting aimed at raising awareness about what the county is doing to make sure controls are in place to safeguard community resources and the quality of life of county residents. 

The county has a very limited ability to influence development, as it does not control or provide utilities and is not able to zone land for allowable use the way cities can.  

Tract is developing a master-planned 3,000-acre data center campus — the Caldwell Valley Technology Park — north of Lockhart, designed for AI and cloud computing with over 4GW capacity. Additionally, Prime Data Centers is planning a separate 206-acre facility that is still in economic development negotiations with the county. 

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality — not the county — issues air quality and other environmental permits for data centers, focusing on emergency generator engines, onsite power generation, and water usage. 

Several residents took the mic, asked questions and voiced frustrations during a more-than-90-minute session where County Judge Hoppy Haden patiently listened and gave feedback. 

A central theme of the discussion revolved around the state’s legislators having placed extensive limits on the ability of counties to make rules that suit their specific situation, especially as it pertains to regulating development. 

Haden urged residents who wanted to limit the ability of data centers to operate in their counties to share their thoughts and concerns with their state representatives. 

“There are five of us up here, and I see more than 10 times that in the audience today,” Haden said, noting that he spent long days at the state capitol during the last legislative session. “With your numbers, you have a far greater ability to make an impact.” 

View a copy of the presentation. 

Watch the workshop. 

Other Action 

Commissioners: 

• Adopted a resolution to submit a grant application to the Office of the Governor Public Safety Office Operation Lone Star Grant Program. The county could receive up to $126,000 with no match requirements. If successful, the proceeds could be used to acquire digital traffic safety trailers with message boards.  

• Approved the submission of two 2024 Road Bond projects to the Texas General Land Office Local Communities Program. The county could get additional funding to help with two low water crossing projects at WattsvilleRoad and Copperas Creek and Seawillow at Six Mile Branch. 

• Approved a License Agreement between the Caldwell County Tax Assessor-Collector and H-E-B. The public-private partnership is similar to that in other counties where H-E-B is allowed to collect forms and tags for vehicle registration renewal. Residents will be able to renew their vehicle registration at H-E-B's Lockhart location in the near future. 

• Commissioners voted to extend the temporary reprieve of the burn ban through Thursday, March 19 after recent rainfall improved ground conditions enough to make burning safer. However, the burn ban is back in effect as of Sunday, March 15 and will remain until it comes up for discussion again at the next meeting of the commissioners court on Thursday, March 26. Windy, dry conditions and a lack of rainfall in the forecast made it necessary to once again prohibit outdoor burning. 

This is a brief summary of discussion and action highlights of the March 12, 2026  regular commissioners court meeting. See full agendas and official meeting minutes and watch full video of the meetings.