Residents and experts urge stricter review, safety checks and transparency for Apache Hill battery project; court approves amended law‑firm engagement letter

Hood County residents, fire‑safety experts and elected officials used a special Commissioners Court meeting April 21 to press for stricter review, more independent testing and better public notice for proposed battery energy and data‑center projects, and to question how county staff communicated with precinct commissioners about large proposals.

Several speakers told the court they feared the scale and speed of "hyperscale" energy and data projects could outpace local capacity for emergency response and regulatory oversight. "This is about restoring process," one resident told the court, urging commissioners to act to avoid legal and financial exposure and to ensure equal application of county rules. Another local resident who said she lives in Pecan Plantation described concerns about evacuation procedures, reliable water sources for firefighting, and the long burn durations and reignition risks associated with lithium‑ion battery fires.

The meeting included a technical presentation on battery energy storage safety, supply‑chain and cybersecurity issues. The presenter summarized NFPA 855 requirements, noted the 2026 NFPA changes shifting toward performance‑based hazard analysis, and recommended third‑party hazard analyses,…