Texas governor race candidate calls for halt to new AI data centers
Democratic candidate for Texas governor, Gina Hinojosa, is calling for a moratorium on new data center construction due to concerns about water, electricity, and local control. Meanwhile, Governor Greg Abbott's administration has announced new measures to require data centers to pay for infrastructure and reduce energy use during emergencies, aiming to protect the power grid and resources. Protests against data centers are ongoing across the state.
The rapid growth of AI data centers in Texas is gaining significant attention, with supporters highlighting jobs and investment, and critics raising concerns about their impact on rural communities. Democratic gubernatorial nominee Gina Hinojosa has called for Governor Greg Abbott to immediately enact a moratorium on new data center construction, arguing that these facilities are drawn to Texas by generous tax breaks and are placing immense strain on local infrastructure and resources in rural areas. She advocates for a special legislative session to implement protections, ensuring local communities have a say in data center development and that essential resources like water and electricity are prioritized for Texas citizens.
Hinojosa emphasized that electricity and water must be prioritized for the people of Texas, asserting that while industry can use these resources, they must pay their fair share and not compromise citizen protections. She also criticized the current administration's handling of state funds, proposing to return money to Texans and address issues within the state's education system.
In response to growing concerns, Governor Greg Abbott's administration recently announced new measures designed to prevent the rapid expansion of data centers from driving up costs for consumers. These new regulations will require data centers to bear a greater share of the infrastructure costs for connecting to the power grid and mandate that they reduce energy consumption during grid emergencies. State leaders aim to safeguard grid reliability and natural resources, ensuring that Texas families are not burdened by the costs associated with the expanding AI industry.