Gov. Abbott calls for ban on rural data centers
Texas Governor Greg Abbott is now advocating for a ban on data centers in rural parts of Texas and increased regulations, a shift from his previous pro-development stance. This call comes amid growing public opposition and concerns over the industry's resource consumption, with a political analyst suggesting Abbott will push for legislation empowering counties.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has recently called for a ban on data centers in rural Texas neighborhoods and demanded more regulations, marking a significant change from his earlier position. Speaking in East Texas about property taxes, Governor Abbott stated that AI data centers should "bring their own money, bring their own power, or use their own water" and should not be built in rural areas, also suggesting the elimination of their tax breaks. This follows recent months where council meetings in cities like Fort Worth and Wilmer have seen packed attendance by residents opposing data center developments.
This new stance contrasts sharply with remarks Governor Abbott made last November while with the Google CEO in Midlothian. At that time, Google announced the development of two new centers in Haskell and Armstrong counties, with Abbott praising Google's expansion and declaring Texas as the "centerpiece for AI data centers for Google in the entire world."
A June UT Texas Politics Project poll indicates that 56% of Texans oppose data center construction in their communities, with only 29% in support. Rice University political analyst Mark Jones explained that while Texans appreciate the online benefits of data centers, they are increasingly concerned about the "not in my backyard" impact, particularly regarding water, electricity usage, and noise, without significant job creation.
Jones anticipates that Governor Abbott will advocate for new legislation in the upcoming year, aiming to grant counties more authority in regulating data center contracts.