General News

We received the following link to see the progress tracker for Center Point Energy. Check it out by clicking below!

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March 3rd, 2026 – Democrat/Republican Primary Election

Monday, February 2nd, 2026  is the last day voters may register to vote, or update their address, prior to the start of Early Voting on February 17th, 2026. Last day to apply for ballot by mail (received, not postmarked) Friday, February 20th, 2026 Last day of Early Voting Friday, February 27th, 2026. Persons already registered in Fort Bend County may update their address online at www.votetexas.gov. New registrants must submit their signed application in person at: 

3730 Bamore Rd
Rosenberg, TX 77471

Early Voting Schedule

At a last week’s City Council meeting, Mayor Pro Tem Linda Harnist brought to our attention the up and coming issue of Data Centers.

As of early 2026, the rapid expansion of AI-focused “hyperscale” data centers has shifted from a niche industrial trend to a major point of social and political friction. While they are critical for the digital economy, local communities often view them as “resource-extractive” projects that offer minimal local benefits in exchange for significant environmental and financial burdens.

The concerns generally fall into four primary categories:

1. Resource Strain (Power and Water)

• Grid Instability: Data centers consume an immense amount of electricity—a single AI hyperscale facility can use as much power as 100,000 homes. This strains aging power grids, leading to fears of brownouts and the reactivation of fossil-fuel plants to meet demand.
• Rising Utility Bills: In many regions, the cost of upgrading the grid to accommodate these facilities is being passed on to residential consumers. Projections from late 2025 suggest some residents could see their electric bills double over the next decade due to this infrastructure build-out.
• Water Scarcity: Data centers require millions of gallons of water daily for cooling. In drought-prone areas like Arizona and Nevada, communities worry that data centers are “drinking” the local water supply, potentially depleting aquifers and lowering water pressure for residents.

2. Environmental and Health Impacts

• Noise Pollution: The massive cooling fans and backup generators create a constant, low-frequency hum (often measured at 85–90 decibels). Neighbors in places like Northern Virginia describe it as living next to a “perpetually idling jet engine,” leading to sleep deprivation and chronic stress.
• Air Quality: To ensure “five-nines” uptime (99.999%), data centers maintain massive arrays of diesel backup generators. Regular testing of these generators releases nitrogen oxides ($NO_x$) and particulate matter, which are linked to respiratory issues and heart disease in nearby neighborhoods.

3. Economic Disparity

• The “Job Ratio” Issue: Unlike a manufacturing plant of similar size that might employ thousands, a data center the size of several football fields may only require 30 to 50 permanent staff.
• Tax Incentive Backlash: Many states offer massive tax abatements to attract Big Tech. Critics argue these subsidies are “giveaways” to trillion-dollar companies, depriving local schools and infrastructure of revenue while the facilities themselves create very little local economic “spin-off” (like foot traffic for local shops).

4. Land Use and “Techlash”

• Zoning Conflicts: Data centers are often built near residential zones or on former farmland/forests. This leads to the loss of local character and “viewshed” (the visual appeal of a landscape), replaced by windowless, high-security concrete boxes.
• Lack of Transparency: Many developments are negotiated under Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs), meaning residents only learn about a project after it has already been approved, fueling a sense of democratic exclusion.

You can go to www.datacenterwatch.org for more information.

Winter Storm Fern proved to thankfully be less impactful than anticipated. Emergency Operation status will return to routine readiness (Level IV) Tuesday, January 27th. Fort Bend County is closed today, but Fort Bend County Homeland Security and Emergency Management is beginning the demobilization process and is currently at Level III.

The week ahead will continue to be chilly, and your emergency management team will continue to monitor the weather.

Thank you to our Emergency Management Coordinator Dave Heslep and City Staff, Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem, and all county agencies that actively communicated and ensured that all basis are covered.

Good morning!

This morning we continue to monitor the situation. We remain at a level three increased readiness. We have had a call with the state and Fort Bend County this morning. The county will be closed tomorrow except for essential personnel. All school districts in our area are closed as well. The Weston Lakes POA has informed us that they have salted the entrances to the neighborhood.

There have been reports of the bridges in our area icing. According to Fort Bend County OEM, FBC road and bridge and TxDOT are addressing treating those areas.

Officials are still encouraging everyone to stay put today. If you have to get out, you can check road conditions another winter storm related information by clicking the link below.

www.Fbcoem.org

See agenda HERE

Happy Friday!

As we all are preparing for the bitter cold this weekend, the City of Weston Lakes has been actively participating in conference calls with State and Local emergency operations. We are sitting in on these calls daily to make sure we have the most up to date information. Right now, it is looking like everyone should be looking to stay home and stay warm, Saturday evening through Monday morning. You still have plenty of time to get everything you need and relax at home on Sunday!

Things the City wants you to know:

The Mayor confirmed with the Weston Lakes Country Club that IF NEEDED, the ballroom will be available as a warming center and charging station for residents.

Our emergency mangement team, along with city staff, has been in contact with AquaTexas and Inframark(MUD 81), and they are both prepared and monitoring the weather closely. There are links below to each of their statements on the upcoming weather.

AquaTexas

Inframark (MUD 81)

The City of Weston Lakes is working closely with Fort Bend County Homeland Security and Office of Emergency Management, and they will be in full activation as of Saturday morning. We stand at increased readiness, and will continue to monitor the weather and provide with you any information you need.

You can get alerts directly from Fort Bend County OEM by texting FBCAlert to 888777, or going to https://member.everbridge.net/453003085616997/new 

** Deaf Link AHAS™ provides the same alerts and warnings as FBC Alert, delivered to internet- and video-capable devices, including computers, tablets, and mobile phones. Fort Bend Alert subscribers in an area affected by an emergency or disaster can receive accessible alert messages in American Sign Language (ASL) as well as English and Spanish voice and text. Alerts are also accessible to Braille readers, and may include information about the emergency and recommended actions to take.

Register here: https://ftb.ahasalerts.com/

There is also a FREE FBC Emergency Management Mobile App available on apple or google play.

Please stay weather aware and get prepared for this bitter arctic blast! Sign up for weather alerts from Fort Bend County at https://www.fortbendcountytx.gov/alerts-warnings

As the end of the year is near, we are letting all of our residents know the holidays the city observes. We are only open on Mondays and Wednesdays, so only some of these holidays will affect operations.