Jack County, TX

Yes. CyrusOne has requested a 10-year County tax abatement, which is being considered by the Jack County Commissioners Court. In response to community feedback, the abated portion was reduced from 30% to 15%, which means CyrusOne pays 85% of County property taxes from day one rather than 70%. The abatement applies only to County-level taxes and does not reduce what the project pays to Perrin-Whitt CISD. The abatement is not a giveaway. It creates enforceable obligations, including sound limits, road repairs, setbacks and screening, local hiring, and dark-sky lighting. If CyrusOne falls short, the County can recover every dollar abated.

The agreement is structured to hold us accountable. If we do not meet our commitments, such as sound limits, road repairs, or local hiring requirements, the County can enforce the agreement and recover the full value of taxes that were abated, along with penalties and interest. The agreement also includes a guaranteed minimum payment each year, often called a PILOT, or payment in lieu of taxes. This ensures the County receives a defined level of revenue annually, even if property values fluctuate or other factors change over time.

Power during the initial phase of operations is planned to come from on-site natural gas generation with Tier 4 emissions controls, permitted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). During this phase, the facility would not add new load to the local transmission grid because it would be self-generating. CyrusOne expects to connect to the existing high-voltage transmission corridor in 2029 or later, at which point the on-site units become dispatchable generation in the Texas energy market. CyrusOne is responsible for paying the cost of serving its sites and for the power required to operate them.

No. Residential and commercial customers should not see their electric bills increase because of this data center. CyrusOne pays for the power infrastructure required to serve the facility and pays for the electricity it uses and its fair share of grid costs. During the initial self-generation phase, the facility brings its own power rather than drawing from the local grid.

No. Under Texas Senate Bill 6 (2025), ERCOT has authority to curtail power to large electricity consumers, including data centers, during grid emergencies and redistribute that electricity to residential customers. Data centers do not take priority over homes during emergencies.

Our cooling system is designed to use very little water. Each building uses a sealed loop that is filled once at the beginning of operations with water brought in from licensed suppliers, then continuously recirculated within the facility. The cooling system does not require an ongoing water supply to operate. The facility’s only routine water use is for everyday needs such as restrooms, sinks, breakrooms, and basic cleaning, estimated at approximately 1,100 gallons per day per building. For comparison, a typical grocery store can use roughly 3,000 gallons per day.

No. We do not use local water for cooling. Water from an on-site well is used only for everyday needs like restrooms, sinks, and basic cleaning, at roughly 1,100 gallons per day per building. The facility will also register as a public water system with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), which requires regular water-quality testing, monitoring, and reporting, and holds the system to standards beyond those of a typical residential or ranch well.

No. CyrusOne uses closed-loop cooling technology designed to use very little water, and it has been standard across our facilities for more than 15 years because we recognize water is a valuable resource. The water needed for the initial fill of the cooling system would be delivered to the site rather than drawn from local supply. Because the system operates as a sealed loop, it does not require continuous water use for cooling.

No. The facility uses a sealed, closed-loop cooling system with no ongoing discharge from the cooling process during normal operations. The system is self-contained and does not discharge to soil or groundwater. The water is treated to keep the system running smoothly, and any maintenance involving fluids is handled by licensed contractors in accordance with applicable environmental regulations. Water from restrooms and other day-to-day use is managed through code-compliant systems designed to protect soil and groundwater.

We understand this is an important concern for ranchers and landowners. Our approach is to design and operate the site in a way that avoids disruption to surrounding properties and the animals that depend on them. Activity from the facility is intended to remain within normal background conditions for the area. We are committing to baseline measurements before construction begins, ongoing monitoring during operations, and corrective action if monitoring identifies facility-related impacts. More broadly, we take care in adapting our sites to fit the existing land and habitat, including habitat improvements. For one, we know pollinators like bees are highly sensitive to changes in their environment, so we built custom bee hotels at two of our campuses where active beehives are thriving today alongside our data centers. 

The agreement sets clear, enforceable limits on how much sound from the site can be heard at nearby homes: 65 dBA during the day and 55 dBA at night. We conduct sound modeling before construction begins to confirm the project, at full build out, will comply, then conduct ongoing monitoring during operations. Sound from the facility should not create a noticeable increase above typical background levels in the area. If we exceed these limits, the County can take action, including recovering the full value of the tax abatement. All exterior lighting meets International Dark Sky Association standards, meaning it is directed downward, fully shielded, and designed to stay within the property rather than spill onto neighboring land. These requirements are written into the agreement and are enforceable.

Sound mitigation measures include:

• Sound-attenuated cooling equipment
• Sound-attenuated emergency backup generator enclosures
• Critical-grade exhaust silencers on emergency backup generators
• Strategic setbacks from property lines
• Acoustic barriers around chiller and generator equipment

Light mitigation measures include:

• Exterior lighting directed downward
• No uplighting
• Shielded fixtures to prevent light spill
• Design intended to minimize light pollution and preserve dark skies

The largest analysis available, conducted by George Mason University in 2023, examined thousands of home sales in Northern Virginia, one of the most active data center markets in the country, and did not find consistent evidence that proximity to data centers lowered property values. More broadly, research on infrastructure projects shows that significant new tax revenue and local investment contribute to property values and overall community stability.

We pay for any damage caused by our construction traffic. The agreement requires documented and invoiced repair costs to be paid within 30 days. Construction traffic is also limited to designated county roads, meaning project traffic cannot use any county road it chooses. 

The proposed agreement includes a $1.5 million commitment for Jack County Emergency Management Services. This funding supports local public safety, including equipment and training for fire and EMS personnel, a mobile security trailer that can be deployed at high-risk intersections during construction, and other priorities identified by the County. 

Phase I (Indicative)

• Phase I includes two data centers representing more than $600 million in minimum construction value
• A minimum of 144 MW of IT capacity
• On-site natural gas generation at startup, with interconnection to the existing transmission corridor expected in 2029 or later

Construction of Phase I is currently anticipated to be complete in the 2029 to 2030 timeframe. Additional phases may be considered over time, subject to the outcome of the County’s review process and future planning. These dates are indicative and subject to the established review process.

Backup generators include modern emissions controls and are subject to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements and applicable Texas air quality regulations, including TCEQ requirements. Generators are used infrequently, primarily for required maintenance testing and during emergency power interruptions, and are not a primary power source. They do not run continuously, and all testing and operation are regulated under applicable environmental permits and emissions standards.

Data centers are subject to applicable federal, state, and local environmental, building, fire safety, and operational regulations. Key areas of oversight for this project include:

• Backup generators regulated under EPA and applicable Texas (TCEQ) air quality standards
• Closed-loop cooling systems designed to minimize water use and avoid ongoing cooling discharge during normal operations
• Sanitary wastewater from restrooms and sinks handled through code-compliant systems
• Site development reviewed through local planning, stormwater, and building permitting processes

Operations must comply with applicable environmental regulations, including EPA standards, applicable Texas environmental requirements, and local ordinances.

Yes. CyrusOne is committed to transparency and community engagement. The project moves through the County’s established review process before the Jack County Commissioners Court, which includes public meetings where residents can ask questions and provide input. CyrusOne hosted a community meeting on May 28 at Perrin-Whitt High School, has published this community FAQ, has made its team available for direct questions, and will continue to engage with local officials and residents as the process moves forward. 

Email us at communities@cyrusone.com or call +1 (866) 297-8766. We are committed to open communication throughout development, construction, and operations. Once operational, the facility would have staff on site 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.