Red Oak residents to speak out against a proposed data center

Residents in Red Oak, Texas, are actively opposing a large-scale data center proposal that would encompass over 800 acres near FM 2377 and I-35. Opponents are planning to gather outside City Hall tonight, an hour before the City Council's final vote on the project's rezoning request, hoping to influence the decision. The project has raised significant community concerns regarding the increased demand it would place on local power, water, roads, and infrastructure. Residents also question the benefits, citing potentially limited local jobs and a proposed 10-year tax abatement. A resident expressed concerns about potential rolling blackouts and water availability for the community versus the data center's needs. The Planning and Zoning Commission previously voted 3-2 to recommend denying the rezoning request after a nearly four-hour meeting. The Red Oak project is part of a broader trend across North Texas where large data center developments are encountering pushback in quieter communities. Separately, Somerville County Commissioners are also discussing another controversial data center proposal near Glen Rose and Dinosaur Valley State Park today.