Residents press Hood County for a pause on data centers; court rejects reconsideration but asks state to act

Hundreds of Hood County residents packed the Ralph H. Walton Jr. Justice Center on Feb. 24 to urge the Hood County Commissioners Court to pause approvals for large data centers and co-located power plants until the county can adopt stronger development regulations.

Public commenters told the court that proposed projects threaten the county’s water supply, create persistent industrial noise, strain roads and the electric grid, and could permanently change the character of rural precincts. "Hood County will not get a dime," said Shauna Whalen, who accused one developer of making conflicting job and water-use promises and called the proposals "a travesty." Dominique Inge told the court that conditional approvals provide a "point of entry" for investors and urged an outright moratorium. Cindy Highsmith, who has led repeated complaints about ongoing noise from local facilities, said the community needs time to set rules and protections before more projects are accepted.

Experts and residents quoted studies, local water-board votes and regulatory gaps. John Highsmith described a Feb. 18 vote by the Acton Municipal Utility District board that…