Data Centers Emerge As Key Issue For Texas Campaigns
Data centers have become a major issue in Texas political campaigns amid growing public opposition and concerns about weak regulation. Gov. Greg Abbott announced a six-month pause on data center permits, and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality later said it had stopped accepting permit filings.
Data center development has emerged as a cross-party campaign issue in Texas. Former Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller and Democratic candidate Clayton Tucker criticized the industry’s lack of oversight, while Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa called for a full statewide moratorium. Attorney General Ken Paxton has also launched investigations into more than 100 data centers.
The state has more than 300 operating data centers and plans for 288 additional facilities. Gov. Greg Abbott announced a six-month permit moratorium after previously promoting Texas as a center of artificial-intelligence development. Public Citizen said the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality continued processing permits after the announcement, but the agency later told Abbott it had shut down its permit filing system. Polling cited by the article found that 57% of Texans, including 60% of rural residents, opposed having a data center in their community.