Hill County could face legal issues due to moratorium
Hill County, Texas, enacted a one-year moratorium on data center development following concerns from citizens and the Commissioners Court. This decision has already led to a demand letter from a data center project company, with Hill County Judge Shane Brassell anticipating potential lawsuits against the county. The county cites public health risks and the potential use of certain technologies in infrastructure as reasons for the pause.
The Hill County Commissioner's Court in Texas recently enacted a one-year moratorium on data center developments, a decision that has already sparked a strong reaction from the industry.
According to Hill County Judge Shane Brassell, the county received an email and a certified letter just a day after the moratorium was approved, demanding its rescission. Judge Brassell stated that the demand came from a data center project company, indicating the likelihood of potential lawsuits against the county, a possibility the Commissioners Court was warned about by the county attorney.
Despite the legal threats, Judge Brassell emphasized the county's right to protect its citizens from perceived known and unknown threats, including concerns over public health and the potential use of certain technologies, such as those from the CCP or Russia, in data center infrastructure, referencing an executive order by Governor Abbott. The decision to implement the moratorium, though a split vote, reflected a collective desire among commissioners to pause data center development due to an "outcry from our citizens" and the prospect of 8-10 projects potentially covering 15,000 acres before the legislative session in January.