Data centers in Smith County, Texas: 1 project mapped

Imagery: Esri, Maxar

Vulcan Core wanted to put a 12-megawatt Bitcoin mining facility in a small building near downtown Tyler, at 1101 and 1105 West Erwin Street, in an existing building on about 1.8 acres zoned light industrial, with eight shipping containers next to an Oncor substation. Barrio, which bought the property in 2024, would be the final lessee, the Tyler Morning Telegraph and KLTV reported. At a June community meeting, project manager Mitch Brown said it would use a closed-loop system and no city water, create seven to ten jobs and seek no tax abatements. "I live in this neighborhood, I live within a five-minute walk, and I didn't get one flyer, I didn't get one person knocking on my door," resident Amanda Mosley said.

On July 7, 2026, after about three and a half hours and 26 speakers against it, the city's Planning and Zoning Commission voted 5-2 to deny the special use permit, following the staff recommendation. "The plan for the area does not support further intensification of industrial activity," said planning director Kyle Kingma. "We have to consider the overall benefit to our community with this just being seven to 10 jobs when you compare the potential impacts," said Phillip Olivares, who runs the building next door. Commissioners James Wynne and Roy Martinez voted against the denial. In September the Zoning Board of Adjustment ruled unanimously that it had no jurisdiction over Barrio Resources' separate challenge to the city's 2025 ruling that a permit was needed, because the appeal was filed 364 days late, KLTV reported. Barrio still has a timely appeal of the July denial on hold, which would send the decision to the City Council.

At the county level, the Commissioners Court has twice delayed a vote on forming a joint commission with Van Zandt County to study the effects of solar farms, data centers and high-capacity water wells, KLTV reported in May. "This is about protecting our families, our farmland, and our future," said Commissioner Christina Drewry, who backed it. "You either want more government or you want less government," said Commissioner John Moore. "Austin needs to take ownership of this." County Judge Neal Franklin told the crowd, "You must know that we all hear you and we're concerned with the same thing you are."

Every project above is drawn from public records, filings and local reporting. Each row links to what it is based on. Statuses change, so check the source date before you rely on one. Found something wrong? Write to [email protected] and it gets fixed.