Ag Commissioner Presses for special Legislative Session on Data Center Growth
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller is urging Governor Greg Abbott to call a special legislative session to address the rapid expansion of data centers, citing threats to the state's agriculture, electric grid, and water supplies. Miller criticized Abbott's economic policies for prioritizing tech companies over rural Texans and agricultural interests. He emphasized that one withdrawn project does not negate the hundreds planned or under construction, and that water resources are irreplaceable.
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller renewed his call for Governor Greg Abbott to convene an immediate special legislative session to tackle the unbridled growth of data centers. Miller warned that unchecked expansion poses significant threats to Texas's agriculture, rural communities, and the state's electric grid.
The Commissioner also criticized Governor Abbott's attempt to showcase the withdrawal of a proposed East Texas data center as policy success. Miller argued that this single event does not offset the numerous data centers already planned or under construction, nor does it mitigate the ongoing loss of farmland, strain on the power grid, or depletion of vital water supplies.
Miller highlighted the critical issue of water consumption by data centers, noting that these facilities can use millions of gallons daily for cooling, diverting water that is essential for crops, livestock, and rural communities. He asserted that while power infrastructure can be built, water cannot be manufactured. Miller concluded by stating that Governor Abbott has the authority to act but has failed to prioritize the concerns of Texas farmers and ranchers over global tech companies, challenging him to choose between the state's agricultural foundation and Big Tech.