Texas Governor Abbott proposes data center moratorium, draws criticism from Trump
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has issued a directive temporarily halting new data centers from connecting to the state's power grid until a review of their energy and water usage is completed. This policy has drawn criticism from President Donald Trump, while Meta has expressed support for responsible development and stated it covers its energy and water costs.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has issued a directive that temporarily halts new data centers from connecting to the state's power grid. This move comes as state regulators are tasked with conducting a comprehensive review and audit of the energy and water consumption, as well as the community impacts, of these facilities. Abbott's policy calls for tech companies to bear the full cost of their operations, asserting they must "pay their way."
The directive has sparked debate and political infighting, with former President Donald Trump publicly criticizing the decision. Trump, speaking to Punchbowl News, labeled the moratorium a mistake, suggesting that the data center industry could become economically larger than Texas's traditional oil sector and noting that many communities desire such developments.
In response to the governor's stance, Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, released a statement supporting Governor Abbott's commitment to responsible data center development. Meta affirmed its practice of covering the full costs of its data centers' energy and water usage, aligning with the governor's call for accountability within the industry.