Texas data centers are growing faster than the power grid can serve them, and some developers have found a workaround: build the power plant on-site. The strategy, called going behind-the-meter, means natural gas plants rising right next to server farms instead of waiting years for a grid connection. Near Houston, one such campus is already under construction. North of Austin, a proposed 664-acre data center campus in Taylor drew so much community concern over its gas plant and traffic that the city annexed the site to gain regulatory authority over the project. One Taylor resident told Spectrum News she’s terrified for the health of her three young children.

Developers argue they can’t wait in grid queues that stretch for years, and one CEO said cleaner emissions technology will come as the projects evolve. Environmental advocates aren’t convinced. Environment Texas estimates that if every proposed data center gas plant in the state gets built, the climate impact would equal adding more than 50 million cars to Texas roads. That’s a staggering number for a state already leading the nation in power demand growth.

So what does this mean for Ellis County? Waxahachie sits squarely in the DFW growth corridor, and energy-hungry projects are watching this area closely. The Taylor fight offers a preview: residents asking about traffic and emissions, cities weighing tax revenue against quality of life, and developers promising fixes down the road. The question for our community is how much say neighbors should have before the first foundation is poured. What would you want to know if a project like this was proposed near your home?