Despite Abbott moratorium, Texas kept issuing data center permits
Texas regulators issued at least 16 data center-related permits after Gov. Greg Abbott ordered permitting to halt, including a stormwater permit for a Sitespan project near San Antonio and Seguin. The permits have since been suspended, and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality shut down its automated filing system while the state reviews applications manually.
Gov. Greg Abbott ordered Texas agencies on Sept. 21 to stop approving data center permits until the Electric Reliability Council of Texas completes an audit of facilities seeking to connect to the state grid. Despite the directive, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality processed at least 16 permits, according to Public Citizen, including a construction stormwater permit issued Oct. 13 to Sitespan, LLC, for a project on Bolton Road between San Antonio and Seguin. A separate draft air-emissions permit for the Sa01 Data Center near Interstate 37 was not finalized.
TCEQ initially denied that permits had been issued but later acknowledged that the permits were suspended. Agency spokesman Ryan Vise said the automated electronic filing system was shut down and applications would now be submitted physically for staff review. Public Citizen criticized the agency’s handling of the permits, while residents have raised concerns about data center impacts on property values, water use and electricity demand. ERCOT’s audit is scheduled to be presented to the Public Utility Commission of Texas on Dec. 10.