Athens pauses work on local infrastructure regulations amid state’s data center audit
The City of Athens paused work on local infrastructure regulations for data centers following Governor Greg Abbott's statewide decision to audit all new data center projects connecting to Texas's electrical grid. This state-mandated pause means no new data center construction can proceed until the audit is complete. Locally, the pause comes after months of resident protests against a proposed 10-megawatt facility in Athens.
The City of Athens, Texas, has announced it will halt its work on local infrastructure regulations pertaining to data centers. This decision follows an order from Governor Greg Abbott to pause all new data center projects across the state of Texas.
Governor Abbott's directive requires an audit of all data center developments that are currently connecting to the state's electrical grid, effectively preventing any new construction until the review is finalized. Athens officials had been engaged for several months in drafting specific regulations for data centers, intending to incorporate them into the city's zoning ordinance and present them for public review.
The city's efforts to develop these regulations were prompted by sustained opposition from Athens residents. For months, local residents have been protesting a proposed 10-megawatt data center facility, which the company involved had described as "flexible power farms."