Texas continued processing some data center permits after Gov. Abbott's pause, records show
Texas environmental regulators continued processing some data center-related applications after Gov. Greg Abbott ordered a pause on permitting pending an Electric Reliability Council of Texas audit. Records show activity involving projects including EdgeConneX’s campus in Bastrop County, although state officials said no data center permits had been approved.
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality records show the agency continued advancing at least 35 data center-related applications after Gov. Greg Abbott directed it to halt data center permitting on Sept. 21. The activity included stormwater approvals, air-emissions certifications, engineer assignments and public notices, despite the governor’s stated pause pending an audit by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas.
One affected project is EdgeConneX’s second data center campus in Bastrop County, for which TCEQ approved stormwater coverage. TCEQ interim executive director Steven Schar said the agency had paused issuance of permits for infrastructure directly supporting data centers, while spokesperson Victoria Cann said no data center permits had been issued. FracTracker and Public Citizen criticized the agency’s actions, and state Rep. Gina Hinojosa accused Abbott of using the pause for political purposes. ERCOT is expected to complete its audit in late November and release findings in early December.