The $366M ‘Project Longhorn’ data center is sparking fierce community opposition as developers push forward with massive infrastructure plans. In particular, BlackChamber Partners of Washington, D.C. and Pacifico Energy of Dallas are developing a large AI data center campus in rural Bastrop County, Texas. This large-scale project would also feature a separate natural gas power plant to provide independent fuel for the project.
But the proposed site on Earl Callahan Road is in a quiet agricultural area, and is alarming nearby property owners. As a result, local advocacy groups such as Lost Pines Watch are actively organizing town halls to call for more transparency from corporations. The scheduled construction date of November is fast approaching, and the local people are adamant against the aggressive industrialization of their peaceful rural life.
Another data center related project facing setback is the 430-megawatt New Albany data centers gas plant project which is officially moving toward a highly contentious public hearing. In particular, the Ohio Power Siting Board is soon to hear a lot of public comment on EdgeConneX’s massive energy infrastructure plan. The developer is seeking to build a massive natural gas power plant off Clover Valley Road to power its nearby data centers.
Environmental concerns on ‘Project Longhorn’ Data Center
This is a huge amount of electricity that is needed to power a data center of this size. Pacifico Energy will use 48 natural gas turbines to produce about 1,300 megawatts, according to public documents filed with state agencies. This is an incredible amount of electricity, equivalent to the power of about one million homes.
As a result, there are serious and legitimate concerns from the community about possible air quality issues and ongoing industrial noise. In addition, organizers said there are about 1,000 existing homes and 25 schools within four miles of the proposed site. Cameron Allen of Lost Pines Watch said that their argument is not dogmatically anti-AI, but rather, it’s not the right place.
Local Government Action and Future Public Hearings
The community backlash has grown and led to formal protective action by local government officials. In recent months, Bastrop County commissioners unanimously voted to ask the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to intervene. In particular, they are calling for a public forum to discuss Pacifico Energy’s massive power plant project. The commissioners emphasized that residents and property owners should have a clear way to submit comments to the official agency record.
The community is hoping that their collective voice will make developers rethink the location, although it is not yet known when this hearing will take place. In the end, people such as Merrie Santana are trying to do everything they can to make sure their voices are heard in this massive technological project.
Project Overview
- Project Value: Estimated $366 Million
- Location: Earl Callahan Road & Walter Hoffman Road, Bastrop County, Texas
- Developer: BlackChamber Partners LLC & Pacifico Energy
- Status: Construction estimated to begin November 2026; pending environmental hearings
Scope
- Massive artificial intelligence data center campus
- Dedicated on-site natural gas power plant
- 48 natural gas turbines generating 1,300 megawatts
- Potential tenancy by AI giant Anthropic
Project Highlights
- Generates enough on-site electricity to power one million homes
- Construction is estimated to run from late 2026 through early 2028
- Has sparked fierce, organized community opposition via Lost Pines Watch
- Subject of a formal resolution by Bastrop County commissioners demanding a public hearing
Key Developments
- State records officially dubbed the massive development “Project Longhorn”
- Rumors emerged in August that AI company Anthropic may lease the facility
- Lost Pines Watch hosted a community town hall to share research and public information requests
Key Challenges
- Overcoming intense, highly organized local opposition to rural industrialization
- Addressing severe community fears regarding air quality and continuous turbine noise
- Mitigating impacts on the 1,000 homes and 25 schools located within a four-mile radius
- Navigating upcoming public environmental hearings and potential regulatory delays
Outlook
- Developers target an aggressive construction start date in November
- The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality will likely schedule a public hearing soon
- Local residents will continue organizing fierce opposition to protect their property values
- The project’s ultimate success depends heavily on securing final state environmental permits
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