Nonprofit questions TCEQ's data center permit compliance
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott directed the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to stop issuing permits related to data center development. Public Citizen says TCEQ approved water-quality authorizations after the directive, while the agency maintains the documents were automated stormwater construction notices rather than operational permits and says it has since suspended them.
Gov. Greg Abbott directed the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to pause permits tied to data center construction and supporting infrastructure. Public Citizen, represented by Kathryn Guerra, says its review found that TCEQ approved water-quality authorizations after the September directive, with some documents showing the permits active on Oct. 17.
TCEQ disputed the nonprofit’s interpretation, saying the documents were automated stormwater construction Notices of Intent rather than operational permits. The agency said it suspended the notices, while Public Citizen questioned the timing and the governor’s office said TCEQ had not taken proactive action to approve data center permits. TCEQ’s permit application portal has since been shut down.