New coalition warns data center growth could strain Texas water supplies
A new coalition of civil rights leaders and community groups has launched in Texas, warning that the rapid expansion of data centers could strain the state's limited water resources. They are calling for an immediate pause and review of water commitments to these developments. Separately, the Governor has directed the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to stop permitting data center projects until state audits on electricity and water impacts are completed.
A new coalition named "We the People Texas," comprising groups like the Texas NAACP, Save Rural Texas, Texas Coalition Against Data Centers, and Don't Drain Texas, launched at the Texas State Capitol on Monday. The coalition voiced concerns that the growing number of data centers across the state threatens Texas's long-term water supply and is advocating for an immediate pause and review of water commitments made to these developments.
A spokesperson for the Lubbock NAACP Chapter, who previously led efforts resulting in a nine-month moratorium on data centers in Lubbock, shared her strategy with other rural Texans. Geoff Parker with Save Rural Texas clarified that their opposition is not against technology itself, but against what they term unsustainable water use. The groups are urging Texans to get involved, request public records, and push for greater oversight of future data center projects.
In related news, the Governor of Texas last week directed the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to halt the permitting of data center projects. This pause will remain in effect until the state completes audits on the industry's impact on both the electric grid and water resources. These reviews are being conducted by state entities including the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT), and the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB). The state emphasizes that data center projects must cover their own electrical infrastructure costs and report electricity consumption.