Hood County development panel backs pause on utility-scale data centers, battery storage and power projects

The Hood County Development Commission voted to recommend a seven‑month moratorium on utility‑scale data centers, battery energy storage systems, large power‑generation projects and associated substations, and it adopted edited moratorium language to forward to the commissioners court.

Commissioners and members of the public said the pause is intended to allow the county to complete an engineering review, update development regulations and require clearer risk‑management and emergency‑response plans before new large‑scale projects proceed. The commission voted 3–1 to recommend the moratorium to the commissioners court and later adopted the finalized language to transmit to the court.

Retired attorney Andre Arnold, who addressed the commission during public comment, cited Subchapter K and urged legal defense of a moratorium if necessary. “Without adequate development regulations, the area and the watershed will be developed in ways that endanger and interfere with proper use of the area,” he said, urging the commission to press the issue to the commissioners court and the Texas Attorney General.

Members said specific items the moratorium should buy time to address include fire‑dept response capabilities for thermal‑runaway fires, the adequacy of water and hazmat resources, clearer conceptual and development plan checklists for large industrial proposals, and scrutiny of foreign‑manufactured components in energy storage containers. Commissioners discussed incorporating language from other Texas counties’ moratoria and agreed to list data centers, battery energy storage systems, large‑scale power generation facilities and crypto‑mining facilities (utility-scale solar and wind) in the scope.

Commissioners and staff noted the county has hired an engineering consultant (phase one, $130,000) to prepare interim “triage” regulations and that litigation continues over whether Local Government Code chapter 232 applies to the currently proposed projects. Several speakers and commissioners said the Attorney General was asked for an opinion but that formal guidance may be delayed until the legislature addresses the issue.

The commission debated moratorium length before agreeing to recommend seven months with a three‑month extension option to the commissioners court; commissioners then adopted the moratorium language as amended and tasked staff with transmission to the court. The commissioners court will take the formal action; the development commission’s votes were advisory and procedural in nature.

The commission scheduled a special call meeting for next week where Dr. Wolfford and Fire Marshal Jeff Young will present a compliance review under NFPA 855, which commissioners said will inform planning and any follow‑up requirements.