Hood County commissioners voted Tuesday night against a proposed moratorium on new data center construction, allowing multiple projects to proceed under existing state law.
The decision affects several proposed developments, including the Comanche Circle Project, which commissioners granted conditional approval last month.
Before commissioners cast their votes, county attorney Matt Mills told the court that Texas law does not authorize counties to halt development in unincorporated areas and warned that adopting a moratorium could expose Hood County to legal challenges.
More than 60 residents had asked the court to delay construction so they could gather additional information about potential effects on local water supplies and electricity capacity.
Diana Wright, who petitioned for the moratorium, expressed disappointment following the vote.
“We don’t have the money that the big companies do. Frankly, I don’t want the big money,” Wright told FOX 4’s Vania Castillo.
Texas law grants counties limited authority over land use in unincorporated areas compared to municipalities, which maintain zoning powers.
Data centers use electricity and water for cooling systems. Some residents said they remain concerned about whether local infrastructure can support additional demand.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, state regulators have begun implementing new performance requirements for large electricity loads, including data centers, during grid emergencies. Major technology companies have also announced expansion plans in Texas, including Google’s previously announced $40 billion investment in new data center campuses and AI infrastructure statewide.
County officials did not indicate plans to revisit the issue.
