Texas environmental agency shuts down online permit filing system after data center controversy
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality temporarily disabled its automated permit filing system after watchdog groups identified stormwater permits they said were improperly issued for data center construction. The agency said applications potentially related to data centers will now be reviewed by staff, following Gov. Greg Abbott's directive to pause data center permits.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality temporarily shut down its STEERS electronic filing system after Public Citizen and FracTracker Alliance identified stormwater permits they said had been automatically approved for large construction projects associated with data centers. TCEQ said the system would remain offline while staff manually review applications to determine whether they are related to data centers.
The action followed Gov. Greg Abbott's directive for TCEQ to stop issuing permits tied to data center projects while state agencies and the state's electric grid operator assess proposed water and power usage. Watchdog groups criticized the agency's handling of the pause, arguing that the permit problems demonstrate the need for a formal, legislatively backed moratorium on data center development.