Abbott says his data center pause in Texas is working, as Democrats urge him to call special session
News Clip2:38CBS TEXAS·TX·8/23/2026
Governor Greg Abbott has enacted a statewide pause on data center construction in Texas, pending a comprehensive audit by state regulators. Lawmakers have held hearings on the controversial facilities due to pushback from rural and suburban voters, making data centers a key issue in the upcoming November election. The governor previously developed guardrails and guidelines for data center operations.
moratoriumgovernmentopposition
Gov: Greg Abbott, Texas State Regulators, Texas State Legislature
Data centers have become a flashpoint in the November election in Texas and across the country. Rural and suburban voters have pushed back over data center projects in the Lone Star State.
Even though the state legislature is not in session, lawmakers held a hearing last week on the controversial facilities at the Capitol, where Texans expressed their concerns.
Gov. Greg Abbott has paused construction on data centers until state regulators can conduct a comprehensive audit on each proposed project, which will take months to complete. The governor previously developed what he calls guardrails and guidelines on how new data centers operate in the state.
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