Community Input, Practical Impact: Balancing Data Center Growth with Community Needs

By Conserve Central Texas | August 18, 2026
Photo of attendees and presenters at CAPCOG's energy workshop on data centers, hosted in the City of Round Rock.

This hybrid workshop took a deeper look at one of the highest-interest topics identified through participant surveys: the growth of data centers and their implications for communities, with a focus on zoning, environmental impacts, and community engagement. This workshop was presented in partnership with the Capital Area Council of Governments (CAPCOG), the State Energy Conservation Office (SECO), and the South-central Partnership for Energy Efficiency as a Resource (SPEER).

Event Date

Tuesday, August 25, 2026

Featured Speakers

  • Ali Fares, Ph.D., Professor of Water Security, Prairie View A&M University
  • Alexandria Nelson, Program Director of Digital Economy and the Environment, Environmental Law Institute
  • Luke Metzger, Executive Director, Environment Texas
  • Moderated by Noah Oaks, Senior Manager of Policy Engagement, SPEER

Event Materials

Posted in Workshop