Read our Privacy noticeA proposed data center spanning more than 1 million square feet in Westlake, Texas, has drawn opposition from residents and a neighboring Buddhist monastery who fear the facility will destroy the tranquility of their community. The pushback comes as Texas officials step up oversight of new data centers across the state. Greg Abbott ordered the Public Utility Commission and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas to audit all proposed data center grid connections before any construction began. “There are a lot of different concerns around having a data center so close to home,” Hudson said. “One is its proximity, of course, with being the noise pollution and just having a data center in your backyard.