New coalition to release records, seek pause on Texas data center water deals
A new statewide coalition, "We the People Texas," is launching at the Texas Capitol to release public records questioning data center water deals and calling for a pause. This comes as Governor Greg Abbott has announced a halt on new data center permits until more information on water and power use is gathered by state commissions. The coalition includes the Texas NAACP and Save Rural Texas.
A new statewide coalition, "We the People Texas," is launching at the Texas Capitol to release public records and advocate for a pause in water commitments for data center development across the state. The coalition, which includes the Texas NAACP and Save Rural Texas, asserts that the released documents will raise questions about how publicly owned water sources are being negotiated and committed to additional data center projects.
This announcement follows Governor Greg Abbott's recent declaration that Texas is slowing data center development. Speaking in Palestine, Texas, Governor Abbott stated that data centers must secure their own water without impacting local communities. His office has directed the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) to collect comprehensive information regarding data centers' power demand, water sources, water use, cooling technologies, and community impacts.
Governor Abbott emphasized that all data centers requiring permits are currently at an "absolute halt" until this information is fully gathered. The coalition's initiative focuses on critical questions such as project water sources, potential water consumption, and the specifics of publicly owned water allocations for these facilities.