'Texans are mad and fed up': Texas gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa on more data centers
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa is campaigning against Texas Governor Greg Abbott's data center policies, citing rising energy costs and a lack of zoning in rural areas. Abbott recently paused new data center grid approvals and ordered an audit due to growing backlash, while Pennsylvania also introduced stricter conditions. The debate highlights the economic and environmental impacts of data center proliferation.
Democratic State Representative Gina Hinojosa, a candidate for Texas governor, is campaigning against Governor Greg Abbott's policies on data center development, arguing that his administration's rich tax breaks have led to an "invasion" of data centers without adequate protection for Texans. Her campaign highlights rising electric bills and the strain on the state's power grid, attributing these issues to the energy demands of data centers and Abbott's acceptance of campaign donations from data center executives.
The controversy has prompted action, with Governor Abbott recently pausing new data center grid approvals and ordering an audit of projects seeking to connect to the state's power infrastructure. Texas, with over 500 data centers, accounts for approximately 90% of new power requests, potentially demanding five times the grid's record peak. The issue is also gaining traction elsewhere, as Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro recently signed an executive order imposing strict energy, water, and community requirements on new data center developments in his state.
Hinojosa emphasizes that the opposition is not limited to wealthy urban residents but includes rural Texans, exemplified by the "Break Ranks" movement in Granbury, outside of Dallas. These communities, often lacking zoning regulations and emergency services, feel exploited by hyperscale data centers. Hinojosa is calling for a special legislative session to enact laws that provide basic protections and allow communities a voice in deciding how and if data centers operate in their areas.