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Residents urge moratorium and tighter rules as data-center proposals multiply
Summary
Public commenters told the Hood County Commissioners Court that an influx of proposed data centers could drain water and strain power lines, and urged a moratorium, fee increases and coordination with cities to avoid grandfathering under old rules.
Several residents used the public-comment period to urge the commissioners to act on a wave of proposed data centers and to consider temporary restrictions while state legislation evolves.
Matt Long urged the court to enact a moratorium or other immediate measures to limit projects that could otherwise proceed under old regulations. “There could potentially still be 8,000 acres of developments under the old regulations,” he warned, and proposed options ranging from a short-term moratorium tied to the next legislative session to raising application fees and requiring updated site development reviews.
Jim Bell followed with a detailed critique of the infrastructure and economic effects of large data centers, telling the court that “1 gigawatt is the equivalent output of a full size nuclear reactor operating at maximum,” and that utilities and taxpayers can end up shouldering the cost of new transmission infrastructure. Bell urged commissioners to evaluate cumulative impacts — on water supplies, on tourism and on property values — rather than treating each project in isolation.
Commissioners acknowledged the concerns and discussed options already on the table — including interlocal cooperation and a possible 391 commission — but did not adopt an emergency moratorium at the meeting. Staff said they will continue to refine the county’s strategic plan and new regulations and that citizens’ written proposals would be accepted for further consideration.
