So, you know how much power your local county has? Well, in Hood County, commissioners just voted 3-2 against putting a pause on new data center developments. This isn't just about server farms; it's a big deal for local power and land use in Texas. They made this decision after getting a letter from a state senator. The senator basically told them, 'Hey, you don't actually have the legal right to stop these projects with a moratorium.' That's a direct challenge to what local governments might think they can do. This situation highlights a constant tension in Texas: how much control does a county truly have over its own land, especially when state law might say otherwise? It shows us that local officials can't always just make rules, even when faced with rapid growth, like this current AI boom driving more data centers. It's a strong reminder that state statutes often set the ultimate boundaries for local authority. What seems like a local decision can have deep roots in state legal frameworks.