A public hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, June 17, 2026, by Freestone County Commissioners for the ‘Proposed Designation of a County Reinvestment Zone’ regarding property on the west side of FM 488, across the road from Calpine – Freestone Energy Center.
This property, 218.1 acres, is being purchased from multiple Freestone County residents for use in the second phase of the AI Data Center being built in that area by CyrusOne.
According to a public notice printed in the May 13, 2026, edition of The ‘Times’ this reinvestment zone “is intended for the construction, installation, and operation of facilities for one or more data centers.”
During this meeting, interested parties are welcome to voice their concerns, present evidence for or against the designation, and ask questions. Once the hearing is concluded, Commissioners intend to either approve or deny the establishment and designation of the reinvestment zone.
In preparation of this Public Hearing, Commissioners held a special meeting on Wednesday, June 10, in which they had an agenda item specifically for the discussion of the AI Data Center.
Before citizen remarks, three representatives of CyrusOne gave a presentation about the project in which they explained the following:
–There is a lot of bad information out there about Data Centers.
–An AI Data Center is a secure building that houses servers and computers that allow you to run your cellphones, computers, and other devices.
–Different data center developers do things differently. At CyrusOne, we can hold our heads high knowing we are doing things the right way; doing what we say we are going to do.
–We have been in business for 25 years.
–We use a closed-loop water system for cooling (about 1,000 gallons per building per day). The initial water will be purchased from a water aquafer and brought in to fill the system.
–We pay for the electrical power we use.
–Environmentally, we are on track to be carbon-neutral by 2030.
–Sound: We know before construction begins what is needed and include appropriate boundaries. Typically, there will be only 45-55 decibels of sound produced by the data center, which is no louder than people speaking at normal volume.
–Lighting: Low level lighting facing downward.
–Jobs: 40 jobs per building once project completed.
–We are working with TSTC for interns to work at the facility.
–Tax Revenue produced will benefit local school district and hospital.
–Existing well water will be utilized to service toilets and water fountains.
–Not to disparage other developers, but we do things differently.
–We try to be as transparent as possible and to educate the communities we are coming into.
Following this presentation, approximately 30 citizens spoke, voicing their concerns of the project. At one point, discussions got heated and Sheriff Shipley had to step in, saying, “The commissioners have given all of you a chance to speak, now it’s time to let them speak without talking over them.”
In addition to voicing the same concerns of noise, sound, and water pollution, rising utility bill cost, health concerns, and rural way of life disturbance, some of the comments made included:
–“You’re invading our country life here in Freestone County”
–“If I wanted the noise and diminished countryside, I would have stayed in Dallas. Why bring this here? Let them keep it in the big cities instead of ruining our countryside. We don’t need this money at the detriment of our county and way of life.”
–“You aren’t being transparent. You’re contradicting yourself with your answers. I feel like y’all were sent here to placate us, but you can’t answer the questions. How can we trust anything you or your company is telling us?”
–“I know you say you posted it online and at the courthouse, but y’all should have gotten the word out to us before any of this ever started, letting us know it’s coming.”
* Side Note: A public notice was also run in this newspaper, notifying the public of the Public Hearing for the first tax abatement before the project ever began. The newspaper is a great source of information, in both articles and public notices.
In fact, public notices from all Texas newspapers are archived online at www.TexasPublicNotices.com and may be accessed by the public, free of charge. This public service is provided by member newspapers of the Texas Press Association.
Not everything is posted on social media. Take time to have a look. *
“So far, CyrusOne has been true to their word and sticking to the terms set forth in the initial agreement,” explained Freestone County Commissioner, Pct. 4, Clyde Ridge. “We have no reason to believe that would change moving forward.”
Commissioners explained that they had toured a completed Data Center in Allen, Texas that is supposed to be nearly identical to the project being constructed in Freestone County.
“We even spoke with a few residents living adjacent to that facility, asking how it has affected their daily lives, and were told that it was just another building,” said Commissioner Ridge. “I feel comfortable that I’ve done my homework and am confident in our decision.”
“We tested decibels also, and they were well under the limit,” explained Will McSwane, Commissioner, Pct. 2. “This project benefits the county by allowing us to build a new jail, new school, improve infrastructure, while at the same time not raising taxes.”
Judge Lane said, “We aren’t reinventing the wheel here. They do not have to deal with us, but by them seeking the tax abatement, it allows the county to put requirements on them that they must meet in order to receive the abatement. They could do this project without us and there would be nothing we could do to stop it. As a county, we have no authority to keep them from coming here. That is something that must be done at the state level. You need to speak with you legislators.”
Also at this meeting, Commissioners voted to approve the following:
–Minutes from June 3, 2026, regular meeting
–Budget transfers & amendments
–Bill Pay
–Reports from various county offices
–Acceptance of certifications for county employees
The Public Hearing on the tax abatement will be held in the Commissioners Courtroom on the second floor of the Freestone County Courthouse located at 118 East Commerce St, Fairfield, Texas 75840.
Freestone County Commissioners include Andy Bonner (Pct. 1), Will McSwane (Pct. 2), Richard McGowan (Pct. 3), Clyde Ridge, Jr. (Pct. 4), and Lloyd Lane (County Judge).
Their regularly scheduled meetings are held on the first and third Wednesday of each month in the 2nd-floor courtroom.
Meeting dates and agendas can be found online at www.co.freestone.tx.us/page/freestone.PublicNotices.
You can view their meetings on YouTube at www.youtube.com/channel/UCbIetX9uPjTFiTnXLrHpzfA.
