Commissioner's Court March 4, 2026

The Hood County Commissioner's Court held a public hearing on March 4, 2026, to discuss and consider the concept plan for Project Red Data Center, a large-scale data center development on 139 acres involving multiple buildings and significant infrastructure. The developer, Starwood Digital Ventures, presented the project details including plans for noise mitigation, water usage, traffic impact, and compliance with county and state regulations. Extensive public testimony raised concerns about noise pollution, traffic congestion during the 3-5 year construction period, water resource impacts, environmental effects including on wildlife and historic sites, and the adequacy of the developer's plans and documentation. Commissioners and staff discussed regulatory compliance, the need for more detailed traffic and environmental impact analyses, and the importance of adhering to state fire and infrastructure protection codes. The court ultimately moved to deny the concept plan due to insufficient traffic analysis and concerns over cumulative impacts. A motion was passed directing the development director to update county development regulations to include state-adopted fire codes and infrastructure protection legislation, with a public hearing scheduled for March 10, 2026. The meeting highlighted significant community opposition and the complexity of balancing large infrastructure projects with local environmental and quality-of-life concerns.