Public records · September 10, 2026
TCEQ opens a third deficiency cycle. Its director will join TAB. County authority returns to the agenda.
Pacifico’s air registration remains pending. Public Citizen raises concerns about TCEQ’s executive director moving to a business group promoting data centers. Bastrop County will discuss a proposal for expanded authority over industrial development on September 14. The same meeting includes an EdgeConneX proposal now limited to a land donation. Lost Pines Watch is also opening volunteer applications.
Only have two minutes?
- TCEQ has added another deficiency cycle. The new entry is dated September 9, with no completion date shown. Pacifico’s project, permit and action statuses remain pending.
- Public Citizen questions TCEQ’s leadership transition. Kelly Keel, current Executive Director of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), is scheduled to become president and CEO of the Texas Association of Business (TAB) on October 2. TAB promotes data centers and has opposed expanding local environmental programs that conflict with state regulation.
- County authority is on the September 14 agenda at 9 a.m. Bastrop County Commissioners Court will discuss a proposal for expanded county authority. Item F.DO2 is for discussion only. The proposal seeks state legislation; it does not itself grant new county powers.
- EdgeConneX’s park proposal now covers land only. The August 24 proposal included park construction by EdgeConneX and dedication to Bastrop County. Revised item E.10 would accept approximately 25.10 acres, leaving any park development for later discussion. Approval is still pending.
- Lost Pines Watch is accepting volunteer applications. Apply below and tell us about yourself, why you want to help and where your strengths could be most useful.
Sources: TCEQ project record, TAB announcement, Public Citizen statement, posted county agenda.
1. Another deficiency cycle; the air decision is still pending
Lost Pines Watch checked TCEQ’s live record for Registration 185019 / Project 413471 on September 10 at approximately 7:15 a.m. Central. The tracker lists three deficiency cycles:
| Cycle | Start date | Completion date shown |
|---|---|---|
| First | August 21 | August 26 |
| Second | September 1 | September 2 |
| Third | September 9 | No date shown |
The final-package rework entry still has an August 26 start and no completion date. The September 2 supervisory-review entry described in our September 3 update is absent from the current display. The project, permit and action fields all say PENDING, and the action-completion field is blank. Live TCEQ record.
The tracker does not explain the new deficiency, show whether it concerns residents’ technical objections, or establish how long resolution will take. It does not support declaring victory or predicting an imminent approval.
The tracker provides dates and status labels; it does not contain the new deficiency correspondence, the applicant’s responses or a corrected application. Those documents would be needed to explain the substance of the latest review cycle. TCEQ project record.
What this means
Pacifico wants to build a data center near Cedar Creek with a large natural-gas power plant to supply its electricity. This application asks TCEQ, Texas’s environmental agency, to approve the plant under state air-pollution rules. Pacifico’s project description.
A “deficiency cycle” is a review round for questions or missing information that need to be addressed. We do not yet know what TCEQ has asked Pacifico to fix this time. As of this update, the project is still in permitting, and this air application has not been approved. TCEQ project record.
How to check the tracker yourself
Start at TCEQ’s air-permit status page. Open the status search, choose New Source Review Air Permits, enter 413471 in Project Number, select ALL statuses and open the project result. Check the project/action status separately from the dated tracking entries. The separate rules table’s “Approve” flag does not replace those pending status fields.
2. TCEQ Executive Director Kelly Keel is moving to TAB
TAB (Texas Association of Business) announced September 4 that Kelly Keel will become its president and CEO effective October 2. Its announcement identifies her as TCEQ’s current executive director. TAB’s announcement.
In a September 8 statement, Public Citizen criticized the transition as an example of the revolving door between regulators and industry advocacy. The organization argues that such moves undermine public confidence that environmental concerns receive independent consideration. Read Public Citizen’s statement.
TAB’s published positions address environmental permitting and local authority. Its platform for the 2025 legislative session opposes expanding local environmental programs that conflict with regulation by TCEQ, the Railroad Commission or other state agencies. It also opposes creating or expanding opportunities to delay or obstruct permitting. The same section supports uniform enforcement of state requirements. These are TAB’s stated positions on how environmental decisions should be made. Full legislative platform, PDF page 10.
That position has a legislative history. TAB’s 2023 results report records support for SB 784, concerning state preemption of local greenhouse-gas regulation, and SB 1017, restricting certain local regulation of energy sources and engines. Those measures concern particular powers; they do not establish that Bastrop County lacks every tool to review industrial development. TAB’s 2023 results, PDF pages 7–8.
The transition comes as Bastrop County considers requesting additional authority. TAB’s CEO recruitment profile identifies leading the 90th legislative session as an early priority. Keel is joining an organization positioned to participate in that debate. The documents reviewed do not establish TAB’s position on Bastrop’s specific proposal. TAB CEO profile, page 4, Bastrop’s proposed resolution.
TAB also promotes the kind of development proposed here. Its Texas Digital Infrastructure Coalition presents power plants beside data centers as a benefit to host communities. Pacifico’s original JETI application describes gas-fired generation principally serving a colocated hyperscale data-center customer. TAB’s general claims do not establish that this particular facility will supply the public grid, lower neighbors’ bills or meet local water and air-quality needs. Those benefits require project-specific evidence. TAB’s data-center campaign, Pacifico’s original project description, PDF page 7.
How TAB members help shape its agenda
TAB’s July 2026 membership packet connects annual dues levels to participation opportunities. Its benefits matrix lists policy-committee participation at $10,000 and above; eligibility for its board, foundation board and/or executive committee at $25,000 and above; and eligibility for TAB’s internal State Affairs Policy Committee at $50,000. These are advertised association benefits, not guaranteed appointments or seats on a legislative committee. Membership packet, pages 4–6.
The materials reviewed do not establish that Pacifico or BlackChamber pays TAB, belongs to its data-center coalition or directed these policy positions.
Lost Pines Watch’s review: The records reviewed do not establish that Keel personally influenced Pacifico’s application or that an ethics violation occurred. TAB’s general policy positions and Keel’s announced employment transition do not, by themselves, establish a Pacifico-specific relationship. TAB’s announcement.
Separately, Schwertner’s September 1 letter requested a TCEQ response by September 18. That is a requested agency-response date, not a public-comment deadline. Legislative correspondence and contact information.
3. September 14: a proposal for expanded county authority
Monday, September 14, 2026 · 9 a.m.
Commissioners Courtroom, second floor · 804 Pecan Street, Bastrop
Item F.DO2 · Discussion only · Presented by Commissioner Mark Meuth
The posted item concerns a proposed resolution seeking legislation under Texas Local Government Code Chapter 231. Official agenda.
The draft asks the Legislature for expanded authority over large industrial development in unincorporated areas and asks Senator Charles Schwertner and Representative Stan Gerdes to coordinate on a bill. It identifies the Lost Pines, Colorado River and Cedar Creek runoff as areas of concern. Its approval date and signatures are blank. Read the three-page item packet.
This is a request for future legislation. It does not itself grant new county powers or stop Pacifico. The posted agenda schedules discussion, so residents should not describe Monday as a vote to adopt the proposal.
What the proposal would—and would not—change
The draft says the county has “no legal authority to stop, prohibit, or ban developments of any kind” if specified basic requirements are met. That statement appears in a proposal seeking additional authority; it is not a comprehensive account of every existing county requirement. Draft resolution, page 2 of the packet.
Bastrop County’s published development requirements separately address development permits, engineered grading and drainage plans, off-site drainage impacts, wastewater and an applicable emergency-services-district letter. They also state that permits generally will not be issued for noncompliant property. The applicability of each requirement depends on the particular development and governing law. Bastrop County Development Services.
The posted packet contains a proposed resolution, rather than enacted legislation or a completed bill. The scope of any future authority—including covered land, industrial uses, enforcement and treatment of existing proposals—would depend on the legislation ultimately introduced and enacted. Proposed resolution.
The county’s public participation form must reach the County Clerk before the item you wish to address is discussed. Identify F.DO2, arrive early and check the official meeting page and agenda again before attending.
4. EdgeConneX park proposal narrowed to land donation only
The August 24 agenda described a proposed 25.10-acre county park in Thousand Oaks, Lot 82, PID 31980, with construction by EdgeConneX and dedication to Bastrop County. In other words, the earlier proposal included creating a park as well as transferring it to the county. That was proposed construction, not a completed park or proof of a binding construction agreement. August 24 official agenda, item E.25.
Bastrop County’s supporting report for September 14 describes a revised proposal to accept approximately 25.10 acres, PID 31980, in Precinct 3. The item was previously tabled August 24. It now says: “Revised to include only property donation with any potential development to be discussed at a later time.” The report lists financial impact as N/A and recommends approval. Official agenda-item report.
The donation is item E.10, scheduled for discussion and possible action at the September 14 meeting. As of this September 10 update, a vote on the revised proposal is still pending. September 14 official agenda.
The distinction is land versus park construction. The revised supporting report does not include a construction budget, completion deadline or obligation for EdgeConneX to build, fund or complete a park. Acceptance of the land would not, by itself, establish those separate commitments. Revised agenda-item report.
See the EdgeConneX developments along FM 535 and their location relative to Pacifico and nearby neighborhoods on our interactive map.
5. Volunteer with Lost Pines Watch
Lost Pines Watch is ready to welcome additional volunteers. There are many ways to contribute, from occasional help to working-group leadership. Opportunities include community coordination, door-knocking, fundraising, research, public information requests, legal reviews and writing. Tell us who you are, why you would like to help and where you feel your strengths would be most useful.
Apply using the form below. Your name, email and introduction are required; your phone number and interests are optional. Choose as many interests as you like to help us connect you with opportunities that fit. Your application is private and available to authorized Lost Pines Watch administrators, who can follow up about volunteering.
Follow the records and meeting updates
The Resident Action Center provides agency and legislative contact information. For Pacifico’s air-registration record, reference 185019 / 413471.
Get Lost Pines Watch email alerts for permit developments and meeting updates. The community map provides additional project information.
This is a dated review of the public record. Permit entries and meeting agendas can change.