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Data Center Projects in Hays County, Texas
Last verified: October 27, 2026 · 1 tracked project · 4 tracked records
Overview
Texas Data Center Watch tracks one data center project in Hays County: the CloudBurst San Marcos / Central Texas campus near San Marcos, which is split between Hays and Guadalupe counties (DCD). It is listed as under construction, with litigation pending. CloudBurst plans 1.2 GW in three 400 MW phases and 10–12 buildings, with a $14.5B investment and an initial 50 MW targeted for Q4 2026 (DCD).
The tracked county actions so far took place in Guadalupe County: a $500M tax abatement and development agreement approved April 21, 2026, each by one vote (DCD), and a residents' lawsuit filed July 20 (Community Impact). Texas Data Center Watch has no Hays County records yet.
Tracked projects
| Project | Developer | Status | Capacity / size | Investment | Key dates | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CloudBurst San Marcos / Central Texas campus, San Marcos / New Braunfels area | CloudBurst Data Centers | Under construction (litigation pending) | 1.2 GW in three 400 MW phases, 10–12 buildings; initial 50 MW targeted Q4 2026 (DCD) | $14.5B planned (per DCD); Guadalupe County $500M tax abatement (per DCD) | Apr 21 2026 Guadalupe County approved development agreement and abatement, each by a one-vote margin (DCD) · Jul 2026 residents' coalition sued county (Open Meetings Act, Tax Code, conflict of interest) | DCD · Community Impact · KSAT |
Recorded benefits and concerns (CloudBurst San Marcos / Central Texas campus):
- Concerns: Transparency and conflict-of-interest allegations (lawsuit)
Sources for each project are linked in the table. Figures labeled "company" come from the developer.
Record timeline
| Date | Type | What happened | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 27, 2026 | Commissioners court | County page: public hearing Oct 27, 11 a.m., on the Final Draft Development Regulations; adoption may follow. | Hays County |
| Oct 21, 2026 | News | Texas Dispatch: Hays draft rules would tie county incentives for high-intensity uses, including data centers, to cooling-water and on-site power standards. | thetexasdispatch.com |
| Jul 20, 2026 | Lawsuit | (Guadalupe County) Residents' coalition sues Guadalupe County over CloudBurst and Palomino Alpha agreements (Open Meetings Act, Tax Code, conflict of interest). | Community Impact |
| Apr 21, 2026 | Tax abatement | (Guadalupe County) Guadalupe County approves CloudBurst development agreement and $500M tax abatement (DCD). | DCD |
What's next
These dates come from the tracker.
- Q4 2026: CloudBurst's initial 50 MW is targeted to go live (DCD).
- Oct. 27, 2026, 11 a.m. (outcome not yet found): Hays County public hearing on the Final Draft Development Regulations; the county page says adoption may follow (Hays County). The Texas Dispatch reports the draft rules would tie county incentives for high-intensity uses, including data centers, to cooling-water and on-site power standards (thetexasdispatch.com).
- Statewide permit pause: Under the Governor's Sept. 21 order halting permits sought by data centers (Governor's office), TCEQ sent its Oct. 19 compliance letter: it says permits for infrastructure directly supporting data centers are paused, pending applications are being screened, and claimed authorizations are suspended where possible (TCEQ letter). The Texas Tribune reported Oct. 20 that TCEQ says stormwater permits flagged by Public Citizen were suspended (Texas Tribune). On Oct. 21 TCEQ posted that its STEERS e-filing system for automatic authorizations is temporarily shut down so staff can check whether applications relate to data centers (TCEQ STEERS notice); the Texas Tribune reports a spokesman said applications must be physically provided (Texas Tribune, Oct. 21). The tracker doesn't show whether any project in Hays County has a pending TCEQ permit.
Frequently asked questions
What data center projects are tracked in Hays County, Texas? One: CloudBurst San Marcos / Central Texas campus in San Marcos / New Braunfels area, listed as under construction (litigation pending).
Is the CloudBurst data center in Hays or Guadalupe County? Both. DCD reports the project is split between Hays and Guadalupe counties (DCD).
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