Talarico criticizes Attorney General Paxton over Ector County data center investigation
State Rep. James Talarico criticized Attorney General Ken Paxton for launching an investigation into Texas data centers' water usage, calling it a reversal of Paxton's previous stance of supporting the industry without regulation. Talarico accused Paxton of corruption, claiming he benefited financially from data center interests before changing his position close to Election Day. Paxton's office is investigating data centers that have not responded to required water use surveys.
State Representative James Talarico has issued a strong rebuke against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, accusing him of hypocrisy regarding data center regulation. Talarico's criticism follows Paxton's recent announcement that his office would be investigating data center developments across Texas, particularly those in Ector County, that have failed to respond to required water use surveys.
Talarico claims that Paxton previously allowed data centers to operate without adequate regulation for over a decade, providing them with "billions in tax handouts" and personally receiving substantial donations from "data center interests," including 100,000 shares from a server company. The State Representative suggests Paxton's sudden shift to advocating for regulation is politically motivated, coming just 40 days before Election Day.
Paxton's office has stated it will ensure all Texas data centers provide accurate and current water usage information. However, Talarico condemned Paxton's actions as corrupt, asserting that Texans cannot afford a senator influenced by large data center corporations.