North Texas county among first to attempt moratorium on data centers

The Hill County Commissioners Court in Texas voted 3-2 to enact a one-year moratorium on new data center construction, excluding projects already underway. Commissioner Jim Holcomb cited concerns from county citizens about public health, safety, environmental impacts, water consumption, fire safety, noise, light pollution, and road conditions, noting the perceived lack of state regulations. He emphasized the need for action to slow development until further research and regulations can be established. The legality of Hill County's decision is uncertain, with the county anticipating pushback from developers. Holcomb expressed hope that state lawmakers would recognize the county's plea for assistance in establishing regulations and standards. The article highlights a broader context of rapid data center expansion in Texas, with over 400 projects operating or planned, leading to concerns about the state's power grid and water supply. A University of Texas at Austin paper projects data centers could account for up to 9% of Texas' water demand by 2040, surpassing the manufacturing sector. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) initially projected a quadrupling of peak power demand by 2032 due to data centers, a forecast deemed too high by the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT).