‘Data centers could be bigger than oil’: Trump says Texas being against data centers is mistake
President Donald Trump has weighed in on the Texas data center debate, criticizing the state's opposition to such facilities, which he believes is a mistake. This follows Governor Greg Abbott's directive for a statewide audit of data centers connecting to the power grid, effectively pausing some projects. Community backlash continues to grow over concerns about the environmental impact, particularly regarding electricity and water usage.
President Donald Trump has entered the ongoing Texas data center debate, expressing his view that the state's opposition to these facilities is a mistake. His comments came the same week that Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered state regulators to conduct a comprehensive audit of data centers seeking to connect to the state's power grid, a move that has effectively paused certain projects.
In a video interview, Trump emphasized the economic importance of data centers, suggesting they "could be bigger than oil" for Texas. He also highlighted advancements in data center technology, noting that many new facilities are generating their own electricity on-site and can even feed excess power back into the grid, alleviating concerns about strain on public utilities.
Texas has experienced a surge in data center development due to its favorable business climate and power availability. However, this growth has recently encountered significant community backlash, with grassroots efforts raising concerns about the environmental impacts, particularly the high demand for electricity and water. This public opposition has led some local officials across the state to consider enacting moratoriums on new data center construction.