Hill County Approves 1-Year Data Center Ban as 71% Say They Wouldn’t Live Nearby

9 articles · Updated · POLITICO · May 16

Hill County commissioners approved a one-year moratorium on new data centers and related power plants after residents warned about road damage, water use and loss of rural quality of life.
Dozens of residents pressed for a pause at Tuesday’s meeting, while developers argued the projects would add tax revenue and have limited impacts—one executive said a planned site would use water equal to five households.
The move is the first known county action in Texas to slow data center growth, even though counties generally lack zoning power and state Sen. Paul Bettencourt has argued they cannot block such projects.
Lawsuit threats reached County Judge Justin Lewis Brassell within 24 hours of the vote, setting up a legal fight as lawmakers are not due back for a regular session until 2027.
Texas, second only to Virginia in data center activity, is seeing broader backlash as AI-driven expansion collides with concerns over power, water and landowner rights.

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