Developer threatens to sue Hood County over data center. ‘This is why this is so huge’
Sailfish Investors principal partner Ryan Hughes warned that he would sue Hood County if commissioners reject or restrict the proposed Comanche Circle data center campus near Dinosaur Valley State Park. The project faces opposition from Protect the Paluxy Valley, while state directives require data centers to address water use and electric-grid impacts before proceeding.
Ryan Hughes, principal partner of Florida-based Sailfish Investors, told Hood County officials that he would pursue legal action and seek millions of dollars in damages if commissioners do not approve the proposed Comanche Circle data center campus near Glen Rose. He offered to reduce the project to 1,375 acres and accept voluntary limits on setbacks, cooling systems, light pollution and road damage, but threatened to build on a larger footprint without those restrictions if the county did not reach an agreement.
The Hood County Commissioners Court was scheduled to consider the development at an Oct. 13 public hearing. Protect the Paluxy Valley co-founder Joanne Carcamo said the group would take immediate legal action if the project was approved, arguing that approval could set a precedent for nine proposed data centers in the county. The dispute follows Gov. Greg Abbott's directives requiring data center projects to undergo power-generation and water-use reviews; NRG Energy previously withdrew an application for a gas power plant intended to serve the Comanche Circle complex.