Skybox Agrees to Texas Data Center Rules
Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that data center companies Skybox, Digital Realty, and Mara will comply with new statewide standards for data center development. These standards aim to protect the electric grid, conserve water, respect neighborhoods, and ensure companies cover their own costs without burdening Texas families. The Public Utilities Commission of Texas (PUCT) and Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) will audit projects for compliance.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced today that data center companies Skybox, Digital Realty, and Mara have agreed to comply with new statewide standards he established for data center development. The Governor emphasized that these "clear guardrails" are designed to protect the electric grid, conserve water, respect communities, and ensure data centers bear their own costs, preventing burdens on Texas families.
Earlier this summer, Governor Abbott directed the Public Utilities Commission of Texas (PUCT) and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) to implement these standards. The directives mandate that data centers protect grid stability, conserve water, avoid passing costs to residents, and undergo thorough examination of their project impacts.
Both the PUCT and ERCOT are tasked with auditing all data center projects, requiring comprehensive information before development can proceed. Governor Abbott stressed that incomplete information would hinder the commissions' ability to guarantee grid stability and reliability. Any data center company failing to comply with ERCOT's audit process risks having its project approval denied.