Gov Abbott: Data Center Coalition to comply with data center standards
Governor Greg Abbott announced that the Data Center Coalition will comply with the statewide standards he established for data centers in Texas. These directives aim to protect the electric grid, conserve water, and ensure data centers do not burden Texas families or communities. The Public Utilities Commission of Texas (PUCT) and Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) are tasked with auditing projects for compliance.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has announced the Data Center Coalition (DCC), a membership coalition for the data center sector, will comply with new statewide standards for data centers. The Governor's directives, issued earlier this summer, aim to ensure data center development prioritizes the protection of the electric grid, water conservation, community respect, and fair cost burdens for Texas families.
Governor Abbott mandated that the Public Utilities Commission of Texas (PUCT) and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) implement specific measures. These include requiring data centers to demonstrate their ability to withstand extreme weather, operate reliably with backup power, manage energy use during grid emergencies, and provide cost-benefit analyses to the state.
Additionally, PUCT and ERCOT will examine how each data center project will use backup power, impact the electric grid, and consume water. This information must be audited before projects can proceed, and any company failing to comply with ERCOT's audit process will face denial of approval. The Governor noted that since these directives were issued, data centers across Texas have either announced full compliance or the termination of their projects.