Bell County Commissioners consider data center moratorium amid public concerns
Bell County leaders are considering a temporary moratorium on data center development to allow time for public input and impact studies. Residents have raised concerns about water, energy, and infrastructure strain. The Commissioners Court is expected to vote on the proposed moratorium at its next meeting.
Bell County leaders in Central Texas are currently deliberating a temporary moratorium on future data center projects. This consideration follows a workshop where over 40 residents expressed significant concerns regarding the potential strain on local water supplies, energy resources, and infrastructure from proposed developments. The discussion was spearheaded by Bell County Commissioner Louie Minor, who formally proposed the moratorium to allow county officials additional time to gather public feedback, conduct research, and thoroughly evaluate the environmental and infrastructural impacts of large-scale data center construction, particularly with eight projects already proposed or under development in the Temple area.
During the workshop, many residents urged commissioners to approve a temporary pause, emphasizing the need for independent research into what would best serve the entire community. This local debate unfolds as neighboring Hill County recently enacted a one-year data center moratorium, which subsequently led to a lawsuit filed by a data center developer against the county and several commissioners.
Bell County Judge David Blackburn clarified that while the county is not broadly opposed to data center development, it seeks to implement safeguards. He noted the limitations faced by Texas counties, which lack zoning authority and therefore have restricted control over land use decisions. As a result, the county's primary regulatory tool is tax abatement agreements. Officials are developing a "term sheet" with proposed requirements for developers seeking tax incentives, including pre- and post-construction noise studies, setback requirements, natural landscape screening, building height restrictions, and detailed disclosures of power and water demands.
No definitive action was taken at the recent workshop, but county leaders emphasized the critical importance of resident input. The Bell County Commissioners Court is scheduled to consider and vote on the proposed data center moratorium at its upcoming meeting on June 15, with plans to present the potential moratorium to state leaders during the next legislative session.