Bell County approves $4.5 million pilot well grant amid data center concerns
Bell County commissioners approved a $4.5 million state grant for a pilot well project. Residents raised concerns linking the aquifer project to proposed data centers and future water demand. County officials, however, stated the project is unrelated to data centers and focuses on drought resilience.
Bell County Commissioners Court recently approved a $4.5 million state grant for the Fort Hood Aquifer Storage and Recovery Pilot Well Water Resiliency Project. This funding, provided by the Office of the Governor Texas Military Preparedness Commission under the Defense Economic Adjustment Assistance Grant Program, requires a $30,000 in-kind match from Bell County.
During public discussion at the Monday meeting, several residents voiced concerns, linking the aquifer project to proposed data centers and broader issues of future water demand. However, Precinct 2 Commissioner Bobby Whitson and County Judge David Blackburn clarified that the pilot well project is unrelated to data centers. They stated it was planned long before discussions about data centers, is primarily focused on drought resilience, located on federal property, and state-funded.
In other county business, commissioners also approved funding for fiscal year 2027 medical, pharmaceutical, and dental benefits, contingent on plans being awarded to Baylor Scott & White Health and MetLife Dental. This measure passed 4-1, with Precinct 4 Commissioner Louie Minor dissenting due to a transfer of funds from employee benefits to the county general fund.