Permits related to data centers issued after Abbott's halt directive, advocacy groups found
Watchdog groups said the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality approved 35 data-center-related permits after Gov. Greg Abbott directed the agency to halt such approvals. TCEQ disputed that the authorizations were operational permits, but later suspended 17 of them and temporarily shut down its electronic reporting system.
Public Citizen and FracTracker Alliance reported that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality continued approving stormwater construction authorizations for data center projects after Gov. Greg Abbott directed the agency to halt data center permit approvals. The groups said the authorizations allowed developers to clear, grade and excavate sites, while TCEQ said they were automated stormwater general construction Notices of Intent rather than operational permits.
After the groups publicized the approvals, TCEQ suspended 17 data-center-related authorizations and temporarily shut down its electronic reporting system. Public Citizen watchdog campaign director Kathryn Guerra accused the agency of disregarding Abbott's directive, while the governor's office said TCEQ had not taken and would not take proactive action to approve data center permits.