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One of our county commissioners recently toured a data center campus in Allen, Texas that is approximately 50 megawatts in size. I was not present for that tour, and I have only heard second-hand accounts. So rather than attributing specific statements, I want to frame this carefully: If a commissioner believes that a proposed 1,500+ megawatt data center and energy complex in Leon County would be “no big deal” based on a visit to a 50 megawatt facility, that belief is based on a flawed comparison. ...

One of the most common frustrations I hear from residents is this: “These projects just show up out of nowhere.” To be clear, the County Judge and Commissioners are following the law. Agendas are posted. Notices are made. Documents are public. The problem isn’t legality — it’s accessibility. Most residents don’t know where to look, when to look, or what matters when they do find it. That gap is what creates distrust, confusion, and anger — even when rules are technically followed. ...

I want to start by acknowledging something important. One Leon County commissioner (TJ Foley) has already come out publicly and said: He is against the data center coming here He is not in favor of granting a tax abatement But if the company were to build anyway and later request an abatement, he would reconsider in order to do what’s best for the county That kind of clarity matters. Whether people agree with him or not, it shows leadership. ...

Leon County is not facing a single project. We are facing at least four proposed data center and battery energy storage system (BESS) projects, with strong indications that more could follow. That distinction matters. Why this moment is different for Leon County One large industrial project is hard enough to evaluate on its own. Multiple large industrial projects — especially when they are: power-intensive water-intensive long-lived and regionally connected …create cumulative impacts that no single agenda item or court vote can fully capture. ...

A lot of people have asked a fair question: If the county can’t legally stop a data center from being built on private land, why focus so much on the tax abatement? The short answer is this: Because the tax abatement is the most meaningful leverage the county — and the public — actually has. The county can’t “ban” a data center — but it can refuse to subsidize one In Texas, counties generally have very limited zoning authority. That means: ...

One issue that has not received nearly enough attention in discussions about large industrial projects is first responder readiness. This matters even more in Leon County, where fire protection is handled almost entirely by volunteers. Our current reality Leon County already hosts several large industrial facilities, including multiple solar farm installations. Many of those projects received tax abatements from the county. After reviewing those abatement agreements, one thing stands out: ...