Lampasas, TX - Following Hill County’s decision to pause rural data center construction for one year, Clayton Tucker, Democratic nominee for Texas Agriculture Commissioner, renewed his call for a statewide moratorium on new AI data center construction to protect Texas water, farmland, and local communities.

Hill County commissioners issued the moratorium after residents raised concerns about a proposed 300-acre development near Hillsboro and its impact on water use, electricity demand, and quality of life. Tucker said communities across Texas are making it clear: Texans should come before the tech barons.

“I stand with the Texas Farmers Union, the people of Hill County, and all of the Texans who are calling to stop data centers.”

These projects are water hogs, power hogs, and land grabs wrapped like a wolf in sheep’s clothing. They drain our water, strain our grid, and leave regular Texans paying the price while the greedy few cash in.

Texas should belong to the people who live here, not to out-of-state tech barons.”

Tucker said that as Agriculture Commissioner, he would begin issuing agricultural impact studies on major data center developments to slow approvals, increase transparency, and protect Texas resources. He will also use the power of the bully pulpit to help locals organize to protect their homes.

“I call for my opponent, Nate Sheets, to stop using corporate propaganda and other dog whistles trying to convince Texans to sacrifice our resources so the tech barons can continue plundering our Texas.

This issue isn’t left vs right, city vs country; it’s Texans versus the greedy few. We will protect our land, our water, and the families who call Texas home.”

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