Gov. Abbott pauses new data center approvals | Dallas Texas News Now
Texas Governor Abbott has ordered a pause on new data center approvals statewide, citing concerns over their predicted power and water usage impacting the state's grid reliability. This directive has sparked a political debate among officials, with some arguing for stronger restrictions while others warn against hindering economic development.
Governor Greg Abbott has issued a directive pausing all new data center approvals in Texas. This order, announced by reporter Cynthia Isaguirre in Dallas, is in response to concerns about the state's power grid. Abbott's office fears that if all current applications for new data centers were approved, the state's power consumption could quintuple, potentially jeopardizing the reliability and stability of the Texas grid. The pause will remain in effect until an audit of the data centers' predicted power and water usage is completed.
The directive has ignited a political debate among Texas officials. Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller criticized Abbott's move as mere "fluff," arguing it did not go far enough and advocating for a full one-year moratorium or a special legislative session on the issue. In contrast, Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian expressed concern that the state risks going "too far," potentially deterring billions of dollars in economic development for rural Texas, which he described as "dying." Despite being fellow Republicans, Miller and Christian are divided on the issue, highlighting the contentious nature of data center expansion in traditionally red rural areas.
Democrats, including State Representative Gina Hinojosa, largely agree with the sentiment to slow down data center development and implement more oversight and "guardrails." Hinojosa accused Abbott of accepting millions from data center CEOs while offering Texans "lip service to non-existent restrictions." However, some, particularly those from rural areas, see data centers as vital for bringing jobs and opportunities to regions facing economic hardship and population decline.