Texas county lifts data center ban after lawsuit
Hill County, Texas, has lifted its one-year moratorium on data center construction following a lawsuit filed by a developer. The county also voted to implement a new requirement for data center developers to provide a checklist of project information. County Judge Shane Brassell noted the moratorium was helpful in identifying projects and less reputable developers.
The Commissioners Court of Hill County, Texas, voted last week to rescind its one-year moratorium on data center construction. This decision comes after an unnamed developer filed a lawsuit against the county, alleging that local officials had exceeded their legal authority by enacting the ban in May.
In addition to lifting the moratorium, the county also approved a new measure requiring data center developers to provide a comprehensive checklist of information about their proposed projects.
Hill County Judge Shane Brassell, the county's highest elected official, defended the initial moratorium, stating that it served a useful purpose. He explained that before the ban, county commissioners were largely unaware of the extent of data center development occurring within their jurisdiction. Brassell noted that the moratorium helped to "flesh out" projects they didn't know about and resulted in "a couple projects leave the county that were maybe not the most honest people."