Central Texans chime in on Abbott's data center audits
Governor Greg Abbott has ordered state regulators to audit all proposed data center projects in Texas before they can connect to the ERCOT power grid. This audit requires developers to disclose electricity and water usage, reliance on taxpayer incentives, and measures to mitigate community impacts like noise and traffic. The move comes as lawmakers address widespread community concerns about data centers' resource demands.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has issued an executive order mandating that all proposed data center projects undergo a comprehensive audit before they are allowed to connect to the state's electric grid. The directive requires ERCOT and the Public Utility Commission of Texas to conduct these audits, which will scrutinize developers' plans for electricity and water consumption, reliance on taxpayer incentives, self-generation capabilities, and measures to mitigate impacts such as noise, traffic, and light pollution on neighboring communities.
This action follows months of mounting concerns from communities across Central Texas regarding data centers' high demand for water and electricity, as well as their effect on rural areas. State Representative Pat Curry affirmed that the governor's order aligns with lawmakers' efforts to establish "guardrails" and monitoring mechanisms for data center resource usage. The audit, which builds on a previous order from June, comes as nearly 90% of new power requests submitted to ERCOT are linked to data center projects, underscoring the rapid growth of the industry in the state.