The Future of Leon County

I recently was given the opportunity to address the topic of a Crusoe and Black Mountain Energy Data Center’s proposed permit to be built on property acquired in Leon County. Approximately two hundred fellow citizens of Leon County showed up for the meeting scheduled to include several other agenda items.  The meeting started with an opening prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance to both the United States of America as well as to the Great State of Texas. 

(Image courtesy of Shutterstock)

Prior to opening the floor to concerned citizens regarding the Data Center’s potential for negatively impacting property owners, livestock and other interests to include Crusoe and Black Mountain Energy’s request to have their target property given a tax abatement provision, the Commissioner’s Court held a continuing discussion regarding the issuance of a permit to a surveying company’s request to do seismological testing on property owned by Leon County, land currently used for grazing of livestock by various Leon County property owners.

There were serious questions asked of the representative of the surveying company having to do with a multitude of holes to be drilled down in the ground 80 feet for equipment used in measuring movement in and around those holes.  The Commissioners were concerned about how the company would fill those holes, the materials used to guarantee those materials wouldn’t compact or compress later, leaving dangerous holes for livestock to trip over and damage legs.  The company would need to satisfactorily address each challenge both short term and in years to come, including their responses as part of the proposed contract and permit application.

I was impressed with the thorough insight of the Commissioners’ Court as they considered the safety and well-being of property owners and their livestock. When it was my opportunity to speak before the Commissioners Court, my name having been called out by County Judge Bryon Ryder, my remarks included an expressed hope that the Commissioners would have the same standard of requirements to be met by the folks planning to build the Data Center in Leon County.

A short list of the concerns that Leon County property owners brought to the meeting would be: vast amounts of water needed by the Data Center for cooling, possibly depleting the county’s supply of water from the already stretched aquifer, taking into consideration water already being drawn away by the Dallas/Ft. Worth pipeline which has already caused some local water wells to become useless, the possibility of contamination of the water supply from the Data Center as it reenters the environment, excessive demand on the electrical grid, the cost to property owners to pay for power lines that will serve the Data Center, noise levels which would disturb the peace and tranquility of property owners as well as the potential disruption of livestock within miles of the Data Center.  Health concerns that have yet to be addressed or recorded in sufficient abundance or made available to the public would have to be added to this list.

Daniel McCoslin recently wrote, and his insightful line was quoted in the Commissioners Court Meeting held on Monday July 13, 2026, “Property rights keep coming up over the Data Center debates. Have you ever heard the old saying, “Your right to swing your fist ends where my nose begins?”  While continuing that thought he further wrote:

“Lately, I’ve been thinking about how that perfectly explains the Harm Principle, especially when it comes to property rights.

​Think of it like this, your property is your castle. If you want to paint your house neon pink, plant a jungle in the front yard, or build a massive deck, you should be completely free to do it. It's your land, your investment, and your right.

​But there’s a flip side. That freedom stops the exact second your actions cross the property line and start hurting your neighbors. Whether it’s dumping toxic chemicals that seep into the local water supply, or building an industrial project that drains the community's shared resources, noise and lighting pollution that destroys others abilities to enjoy their land. You have crossed the line from enjoying your property to harming someone else's.

​True property rights aren't just about the freedom to do what you want on your land, it's about the responsibility to make sure your actions don't ruin the life, health, or livelihood of the people next door. Something these massive companies don't understand, they just see dollar signs and don't care about the people around them.”

As of July 14, 2026, Daniel McCoslin mentioned in his writings, “County Judge Byron Ryder continues to stand like a wall, rightfully declaring that these projects are a bad deal for our home.”  May right prevail regardless of monetary compensations presented as “Community Improvement”.

County Judge Byron Ryder and Commissioners Paul Bing, Joey Sullivan, and TJ Foley need to know they have the support of property owners in Leon County, as long as they provide necessary safe guards for health and prosperity for those living in Leon County. Limitations placed on County Commissioners and Courts through Texas legislation regarding Zoning are not in conflict with local government entities mandating meaningful contractual agreements with companies expecting to do business within the boundaries of their jurisdictions.