Texas Governor Orders Statewide Pause on New Data Center Permits
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has ordered the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to pause permits for new data centers until a state audit of these projects is completed. This action represents an escalation of the governor's concerns regarding data centers' water and power usage, affecting more projects than previous measures.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has directed the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to implement a pause on issuing permits for new data centers. This temporary halt will remain in effect until state regulators can complete a comprehensive audit of these projects.
The governor's order signifies an intensification of his stance against data center development, following previous expressions of concern over the significant water and power demands of such facilities. This latest directive is described as an escalation, impacting a broader range of proposed projects than any prior actions taken by Abbott.