Red Oak residents protest data center

Name: Red Oak residents protest data center
Uploaded: 2026-05-12T03:35:54.000Z
Duration: 2 min 56 s
Description: Residents in Red Oak, Texas, protested a proposed rezoning decision that would allow a data center to be built on 830 acres. The city council chambers were packed for a public hearing, where the majority of comments were against the data center. City officials argued for potential economic benefits, while residents raised concerns about the project's long-term impacts.

News Clip2:56NBC DFW·Red Oak, Ellis County, TX·5/12/2026

Residents in Red Oak, Texas, protested a proposed rezoning decision that would allow a data center to be built on 830 acres. The city council chambers were packed for a public hearing, where the majority of comments were against the data center. City officials argued for potential economic benefits, while residents raised concerns about the project's long-term impacts.

zoningoppositiongovernment

Gov: Red Oak City Council, Red Oak City Manager

Residents of Red Oak, Texas, located in Ellis County, gathered to protest a proposed data center development during a community hearing. The issue centers on a request to rezone approximately 830 acres of land from an agriculture district to a planned development for a high-tech industrial park, a change that would clear the way for a new data center along FM 2377.

The City Council chambers were filled beyond capacity even before the meeting began, with public comment sessions extending for over an hour and largely expressing opposition to the data center. City Manager Todd Fuller presented arguments supporting the rezoning, asserting that the project would allow the city to implement more regulations for developers and provide a substantial boost to the local economy and tax base, thereby funding city services without increasing taxes for residents.

Despite the proposed economic advantages, residents expressed skepticism and concerns regarding the unknown long-term effects of such a development. This local debate mirrors broader discussions in other rural counties across North Texas, many of which are seeking increased regulation for data centers. State officials indicate a significant increase in data center plans across Texas, with around 400 projects now anticipated statewide compared to just 40 two years prior.