Abbott orders temporary halt for all data center permits in Texas

Abbott orders temporary halt for all data center permits in Texas From the PEP Radio Newsroom, we have this news from Austin: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) on Monday directed the state’s environmental regulatory agency to halt all permits sought by data centers until an audit is complete, his office announced. Abbott in June ordered an audit of all data center permit applications to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), seeking to ensure the centers do not impair the state’s electric grid, which has failed in recent years during severe weather. “Data center projects must cover all electrical infrastructure costs, result in lower residential electrical bills, and complete the ERCOT audit,” a news release from Abbott’s office read. “Data centers must not use water needed by local communities, must report electricity and water usage, and must abide by setback requirements that will protect the communities in which they operate.” Last week, Abbott directed the Texas Water Development Board to ensure data centers comply with water-use reporting requirements and impose legal consequences for data centers who fail to comply with state law. That’s what we know for now. For PEP Radio News, I’m David Moore. Posted: September 21, 2026, at 5:40 PM EDT HuffPost link: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/live-updates_n_6ab0ecffe4b02be6d95a360d/liveblog_6ab19803e4b08976697b1d98