Some Harris County leaders call for data center oversight
Harris County officials are asking the Texas Legislature to give counties greater authority to oversee data center development and protect residents. The Harris County Commissioners Court also approved measures to improve notification and reporting on data center permits, while a state-ordered pause on data center permits remains in effect pending an audit.
Harris County Attorney Abbie Kamin and Commissioners Adrian Garcia and Lesley Briones called for expanded local authority over data center development at an Oct. 15 press conference. They said counties currently have little ability to regulate projects, despite Harris County having 55 operating, planned or under-construction data centers and facing concerns about electricity demand, water use, air quality, land use and neighborhood impacts.
The Harris County Commissioners Court approved a motion requiring county departments to notify the court about major data center permit applications and directing county offices to assess existing authority and pursue statutory changes during the next Texas legislative session. Kamin said CenterPoint Energy expects to connect eight gigawatts of new data center load in the Houston area by 2029, with four additional gigawatts potentially following. Separately, Gov. Greg Abbott directed the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to halt data center permits until a state audit is completed, with findings expected in December.