Rural Counties Face Hurdles in Regulating Data Centers
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Rural counties trying to slow or even block data center construction are finding they have limited legal authority, the Texas Standard reported. Hill County, for example, rescinded a one-year moratorium on data center construction after being sued for $100 million by a company planning a large-scale data center project near Hillsboro.
RCM Hill argued that the county lacked the legal authority to impose the temporary ban, which came after the company had already secured contracts for more than 800 acres for more than $80 million.
“You’re not going to see anybody else trying a moratorium at this point because they’ve seen what happens when you do it,” said Robert Paterson, a professor at the University of Texas at Austin who specializes in land use law. “You basically just get clubbed with a ridiculous amount of money.”
In Hood and Somervell counties, both southwest of Fort Worth, at least nine proposed data center projects are under consideration. Concerned citizens are filling county commissioner meetings, saying the projects could raise electricity bills, strain water resources, and harm tourism.
Earlier this month, Gov. Greg Abbott ordered the Public Utility Commission to ensure that new data centers actually reduce residential electric bills and proposed that new laws be passed during next year’s legislative session to further regulate the data centers.
Texas GOP Pushes For Closed Primaries
Abbott and other state GOP leaders declared at the recent state convention in Houston that they will push to require voters to register with a party to prevent crossover voting, The Texas Tribune reported. “We are going to make clear that in the future, only Republicans will vote in Republican primaries,” he said at the Houston convention. The party has made closing primaries a top legislative priority. The state’s current open primary system doesn’t require party registration, so voters can cast ballots in whichever primary they want — just not both. The Texas Republican Party sued Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson last year and was later joined by Attorney General Ken Paxton in asking a federal judge to strike down parts of the election code that allow open primaries. Nelson, who is stepping down next month, opposed Paxton’s motion and argued that it is up to the state Legislature to change election law.
As of Sunday, the number of confirmed New World Screwworm cases totaled 15. The Texas Animal Health Commission has placed a quarantine on parts of Coke, Edwards, Gillespie, Kerr, Kimble, La Salle, Schleicher, Sutton, Tom Green, Uvalde, Val Verde, Webb and Zavala counties. All warm-blooded animals in a quarantine zone may not be moved without prior authorization from TAHC.
Federal and state agencies are working together to eradicate the NWS by introducing sterile male flies into affected areas. Abbott has issued a statewide disaster proclamation in response. The pest lays its eggs in open wounds, then the eggs hatch into larvae that feast on living flesh. While it is mostly found in cattle, one case has been found in a dog.
TAHC is urging livestock and pet owners to stay vigilant, monitor their animals, and report any suspicions of NWS infestations by calling 1-800-550-8242.