Data center developer drops lawsuit after U-turn by Hill County
Data center developer RCM Hill dropped its $100M lawsuit against Hill County after the county agreed to pay $100,000 to settle. The lawsuit was filed over a data center moratorium enacted by the county in May. RCM Hill plans to proceed with its proposed data center campus near Hillsboro, Texas.
Data center developer RCM Hill withdrew its $100 million lawsuit against Hill County, Texas, following a settlement agreement. The lawsuit stemmed from a data center moratorium enacted by the county in May, which prompted RCM Hill to pursue legal action. Under the terms, Hill County will pay $100,000 to cover RCM Hill's attorney fees, allowing the developer to proceed with plans for an 800-acre data center campus near Hillsboro.
Hill County Judge Shane Brassell confirmed the settlement, stating the $100,000 payment would come from a contingency fund and not impact county services. He acknowledged the legal battle as a "loss in many ways" but highlighted lessons learned, including identifying other unannounced projects in the county. Brassell affirmed the commissioners' commitment to advocating for residents and gaining state and national attention for their efforts against such projects.
Hillsboro resident Linda Pauley expressed disappointment that the situation couldn't have been avoided if county leaders had considered a moratorium model from neighboring Van Zandt County. Pauley, grateful for the commissioners' resistance to data and solar projects, also noted the withdrawal of an abatement request by Gransolar for a separate project. She reiterated her commitment to sharing ideas with the county court.