TAYLOR, Texas — The Taylor Texas Economic Development Corporation has asked the Texas Attorney General to decide whether it may withhold portions of records responsive to a public-information request concerning Project Mustang, confirming that the economic-development corporation possesses at least some records related to the proposed Taylor-area data-center development.
In an August 13 letter to the Attorney General’s Open Records Division, attorney Sandy Hellums-Gomez of Husch Blackwell LLP, representing Taylor EDC, said the corporation had no responsive information for substantial portions of an August 3 public-information request.
For remaining responsive information, however, Taylor EDC asserted exceptions to disclosure under Texas Government Code §§ 552.131, 552.101, 552.107, 552.110 and 552.1101 and asked the Attorney General to issue a ruling.
What Taylor EDC told the Attorney General
Taylor EDC describes itself in the referral as a nonprofit, quasi-governmental economic-development corporation.
According to the August 13 letter, Taylor EDC determined that it had no responsive information concerning substantial portions of the request. For other portions, it acknowledged responsive records while asserting statutory exceptions to public disclosure.
The cited provisions address different categories of potentially protected information, including certain economic-development information, confidential information, attorney-client communications and specified proprietary or business information. Citing an exception does not itself determine that the exception applies to every record at issue.
WLP is not characterizing the contents of the information Taylor EDC seeks to withhold because those records have not been released.
What an Attorney General ruling request means
Under the Texas Public Information Act, governmental bodies generally must release public information unless state law permits or requires it to be withheld. When a governmental body believes requested information falls within an applicable exception and cannot rely on an existing determination allowing withholding, it may be required to ask the Texas Attorney General for a decision.
The governmental body identifies the exceptions it believes apply and submits its arguments for review. The Attorney General then determines whether the information must be released or whether some or all of it may legally be withheld.
Taylor EDC’s August 13 action therefore should not be characterized as a finding of wrongdoing or simply as a refusal to release records. More precisely, Taylor EDC has asked the Attorney General for permission to withhold responsive information and has asserted statutory exceptions to disclosure.
Why the records matter
Project Mustang is a proposed large data-center development east of Taylor that also contemplates substantial on-site electrical generation. Official City of Taylor materials have identified Big Watt Digital LLC and PH DIGITAL DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENT LLC in connection with Project Mustang and economic-development discussions.
For Taylor and surrounding Williamson County residents, economic-development records can help establish what communications have occurred between developers and public entities and whether public commitments, infrastructure obligations, incentives or other arrangements have been discussed.
The August 13 referral confirms the existence of some responsive Taylor EDC records. It does not, by itself, answer whether Taylor EDC or another governmental entity has offered, negotiated or approved any particular economic-development incentive.
Williamson County Attorney’s Office reports no responsive records
A separate public-information response provides additional context. On August 12, the Williamson County Attorney’s Office responded to Project Mustang public-information request 2026-1507-PIA, stating that the office did not have information responsive to the request and considered the matter closed.
That response should be read narrowly. It establishes that the Williamson County Attorney’s Office reported having no responsive information. It does not establish that Williamson County government as a whole, other county departments, officials or affiliated economic-development entities possess no Project Mustang-related records.
What Remains Unknown
It is not yet publicly established from the Taylor EDC referral what the withheld records contain, which specific records correspond to each asserted exception, or whether the Attorney General will agree that all of the information Taylor EDC seeks to withhold is protected from disclosure.
The referral also should not be treated as evidence that Taylor EDC has approved an incentive package or that Taylor, Williamson County or another governmental entity has committed public money or other benefits to Project Mustang. Those conclusions require the underlying records or other official documentation.
A written Project Mustang public-comment statement was also submitted to Taylor officials before the August 13 City Council meeting after the speaker was unable to attend in person. That submission is separate from Taylor EDC’s Attorney General referral.
Wilco Liberty Project will continue tracking the Attorney General proceeding and will review any Project Mustang records released as a result of the ruling.
Sources and Records
- Taylor Texas Economic Development Corporation — August 13, 2026 Attorney General ruling-request letter concerning the August 3 Project Mustang public-information request; submitted through Sandy Hellums-Gomez, Husch Blackwell LLP.
- Williamson County Attorney’s Office — August 12, 2026 response to public-information request 2026-1507-PIA.
- Official City of Taylor Project Mustang materials identifying Big Watt Digital LLC and PH DIGITAL DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENT LLC in connection with the proposed development and economic-development discussions.
- Texas Government Code Chapter 552 — Texas Public Information Act ↗
WLP evidence classification: Confirmed administrative/public-records development. The existence of some responsive Taylor EDC records is confirmed by the corporation’s Attorney General referral. The contents of records Taylor EDC seeks to withhold remain unknown.