Abbott says major data center companies will follow state guidelines
Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that major data center companies, including Meta, Oracle, EdgeConneX, and Stream Data Centers, have agreed to comply with new state guidelines. These guidelines, established in June, aim to protect the electric grid, conserve water, respect neighborhoods, and ensure data centers cover their own costs. The Public Utility Commission of Texas and ERCOT will audit projects for funding, power provision, water protection, and ownership transparency.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that several major data center companies, including Meta, Oracle, EdgeConneX, and Stream Data Centers, have committed to adhering to new state guidelines for their future projects in Texas. Governor Abbott stated that these guidelines, which he established in June, are designed to safeguard the state's electric grid, promote water conservation, ensure projects are respectful of local communities, and prevent costs from being passed on to Texas families.
Under the new framework, the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) are tasked with reviewing each proposed data center project. This review will cover critical aspects such as project funding, the ability of data centers to provide their own power, measures for protecting water resources, and the full transparency of ownership.
According to the governor's office, the Public Utility Commission and ERCOT must conduct thorough audits of all submitted information before any data center project can advance. Any company that fails to comply with these established guidelines will be denied approval for their projects.