Growing Concerns Nationwide Over Massive Data Center Expansion
Residents in Hood County, Texas, are opposing the proposed 2,100-acre Comanche Circle data center campus in the Paluxy River Valley. The project has raised concerns about its proximity to homes and ranches, as well as local electricity, water, tax, and infrastructure impacts.
Brian and Laura Crawford, who raise oryx in the Paluxy River Valley, said the proposed Comanche Circle data center campus would be built about 300 feet from their property line. The planned campus would cover roughly 2,100 acres, with data halls described as being comparable in size to multiple Walmart Supercenters.
The Hood County dispute reflects broader national opposition to data center expansion. The report cites estimates that more than 5,400 data centers operate in the United States and that their electricity use could triple by 2028. Residents and organizers are concerned that communities will bear the costs related to electricity, water and taxes, while supporters of continued development argue that projects should be built with greater attention to location, design and community input.