Hood County commissioners on Tuesday rejected a proposed moratorium on new large-scale data center developments for the second time this month, voting 3-2 against the pause amid sharp backlash from residents worried about environmental and infrastructure strains.
The February 24 decision came despite pleas from dozens of locals during a heated meeting, where speakers urged officials to allow more time to assess potential impacts from the projects. More than six data centers have been proposed in the county, including a recently approved 2,100-acre site that has drawn particular scrutiny over noise, water consumption, and power demands.
Several residents left the session in protest and are now demanding the commissioners’ resignation. Similar data center initiatives across the country have fueled demonstrations citing concerns about pollution, electricity usage, and other effects.
“It is a slap in the face,” said resident Jordan Schmidt, CBS News Texas reported. “It is absolutely disgusting, and they had no care, no respect for us.”
Schmidt highlighted the irreversible nature of such builds: “This is permanent. Once these things go into the ground, something that is several thousand acres, it can’t be easily reversed. So these things, the toxic rare earth mineral batteries, these things are going to be a huge drain on our power grid, they are going to make our water unusable.”
Mark Lowery, a candidate for county judge, warned of broader shifts.
“By bringing these data centers in, it’s going to change the appearance of Hood County,” he said, per CBS.
Commissioners pointed to legal constraints, echoing State Sen. Paul Bettencourt’s recent assertion that local governments lack the authority to enact a sweeping ban on these facilities. They cautioned that pursuing a moratorium could prompt intervention or lawsuits from the Texas Attorney General.
Still, opponents vowed to persist, with plans to press Gov. Greg Abbott to tackle the issue in a special legislative session.
“We’ll be making noise and taking up space,” Schmidt said.
The developer behind the 2,100-acre project, Sailfish Investors, welcomed the outcome in a statement to CBS News.
“We believe this outcome reflects a commitment to the rule of law, regulatory certainty, and the long-term economic interests of Hood County and its residents,” the statement said. “Sailfish remains excited about the potential of Comanche Circle, a transformational project designed to bring substantial private investment, significant tax base growth, and long-term economic benefits to the region.
“Alongside our partners and investors, we look forward to developing Comanche Circle responsibly and in close coordination with county leadership, local stakeholders, and the broader community … We remain confident that Comanche Circle can deliver jobs, infrastructure investment, and lasting value for Hood County.”
County officials plan to review water protection codes on March 10 to determine if they can curb the facilities’ effects on Lake Granbury and other resources.
