Hood County Tightens 10% Development Cap, Revokes 862-Acre Data Center Plan as 2 Lawsuits Hit
Updated
Updated · The Texas Tribune · Jun 2
Hood County Tightens 10% Development Cap, Revokes 862-Acre Data Center Plan as 2 Lawsuits Hit
3 articles · Updated · The Texas Tribune · Jun 2
Summary
Hood County commissioners in March tightened rules for large industrial projects, requiring fuller disclosures on water, power and environmental impacts and cutting allowable site coverage to 10% from 50%.
Those changes quickly reshaped pending projects: commissioners voted 3-2 to revoke approval for Pacifico Energy’s 862-acre “Fort Spunky” campus after its water request was denied, saying the plan lacked a guaranteed supply.
Developers then sued twice — Pacifico seeking at least $250,000 and another suit challenging delays on two projects covering 677 acres — while Comanche Circle’s developer also argued the county never had authority to require concept-plan review.
The clash reflects a wider Texas data-center boom in lightly regulated unincorporated areas: Hood County has 8 proposed projects spanning more than 7,600 acres, with one cluster alone projected to draw up to 3 gigawatts of power.
As AI demands soar, can rural Texas power the digital world without draining its own water and electricity?
With developers suing and state laws lagging, who truly decides the future of Texas's rural landscapes?
2,000 Acres at Stake: Hood County’s Legal and Community War Over Data Center Expansion in Rural Texas
Overview
Hood County is facing a heated conflict over a proposed 2,000-acre data center near Granbury, which has sparked strong opposition from local residents. This dispute has grown into a complex situation involving lawsuits filed by both residents against the City of Granbury and developers against Hood County, as the county has rejected or delayed projects. The legal battles, government decisions, and active community mobilization highlight the community's determination to challenge decisions they see as harmful. As a result, the legal landscape has become increasingly complicated, reflecting the high stakes and deep divisions over the future of development in the area.