Hill County, roughly 55 miles south of Fort Worth, has become the first county in Texas to implement a one-year moratorium on new data center construction in unincorporated areas.
County commissioners voted 3-2 to approve the temporary pause following hours of public debate. Residents and local officials expressed concerns that a proposed 300-acre development by Dallas-based developer Provident Data Centers in north Hillsboro would negatively impact quality of life through noise pollution and excessive consumption of water and electricity.
Hill County Commissioner Jim Holcomb, who supported the moratorium, stated: “The data center folks have found a sweet spot in the state that has limited regulations, limited enforcement, limited code, and they’re coming faster than we can keep up with. I think it’s imperative … that we tap the brakes and we get our arms around what we’re faced with and do the research, do the studies.” Holcomb emphasized the decision was “in no way, shape or form a push to impair anyone’s right to do with their own property what they want to do with it.”
County Judge Shane Brassell noted that the temporary pause would allow officials time to study potential impacts before projects proceed. During an open forum, residents urged local leaders: “We need all that you guys can do to stop this and speak for us.” Another resident added: “Your county is trying to speak and they need you to step in and do whatever it is possible that you can do to shut this down.”
The decision follows similar actions by other Texas counties. Van Zandt County, located about 50 miles east of Dallas, passed an indefinite moratorium on green energy projects in February. Marie Egyed, executive director of Grimes County Citizens for Responsible Development, and Daniel McCoslin, founder of Citizens for Responsible Growth in Leon County, have noted that Van Zandt County’s action sets a precedent for counties seeking to slow industrial development.
In recent months, Hood County and Hays County have reportedly considered similar moratoriums on data centers. However, pushback from state leaders led to Hood County commissioners rejecting the proposed pause.