Oppose? Expand? Votes in 2 North Texas communities highlight a divide over data center growth

In a week highlighting a growing divide over data center expansion in North Texas, two communities took contrasting actions. The Somervell County Commissioners Court in Glen Rose unanimously passed a resolution opposing all new data center developments until state lawmakers address concerns regarding water and energy regulations. This move followed months after the county had approved incentives for a proposed Amazon data center near the Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant. State Representative Helen Kerwin and residents voiced strong concerns about potential long-term impacts on natural resources, water, and the rural way of life, especially near Dinosaur Valley State Park. They urged for greater county authority to regulate industrial projects. Approximately 70 miles away, the Red Oak City Council voted 4-1 to approve rezoning for an 830-acre "high tech industrial park" for Compass Datacenters, which will become the city's sixth data center campus. The decision came after hours of heated public debate, with residents expressing concerns about noise, traffic, pollution, and proximity to homes. City officials, including Mayor Mark Stanfill and City Manager Todd Fuller, defended the project as a vital economic investment that would boost the tax base without substantially increasing demand on city services. They highlighted that the planned development zoning allowed for stricter controls on the project, including a closed-loop cooling system to reduce water consumption and additional screening, setback, and noise restrictions. The divergent outcomes in Somervell County and Red Oak reflect a broader statewide discussion in Texas, which is rapidly becoming a hub for AI infrastructure. The number of planned data center projects in the state has surged significantly. Meanwhile, Hood County officials, who had previously requested Attorney General Ken Paxton's input on their data center developments, are scheduled to hold a town hall meeting to address ongoing concerns.