Hood County commissioners vote to deny data center proposal

Hood County commissioners voted 3-1 to deny Florida-based Sailfish Investors' proposal for the Comanche Circle data center and two smaller related projects near Granbury, along the Hood-Somervell county line and near Dinosaur Valley State Park. Commissioners also unanimously rejected Sailfish's appeal of the county's denial of an on-site permit submission. County Judge Ron Massingill and commissioners Jack Wilson and Dave Eagle supported the denials, while Commissioner Kevin Andrews opposed them; Commissioner Nannette Samuelson was absent.

The votes followed months of opposition from Hood County residents and the grassroots group Protect the Paluxy Valley, whose members cited concerns about the scale of the proposed development and the need for stronger regulation. Sailfish founder and managing partner Ryan Hughes warned of litigation and argued that the county should continue negotiating, while supporters of the denial said the developer's settlement proposal would limit the county's ability to regulate the projects.

The county has considered at least eight data center proposals and twice voted down a broader moratorium. The decision also comes amid state-level efforts by Gov. Greg Abbott to audit data center projects seeking access to the Texas power grid and to pause new air and water permits while ERCOT conducts its review.