Texas governor orders pause on new data centers pending audits by state
News ClipBaltimore Sun·TX·8/5/2026
The Texas governor has issued a statewide order pausing new data center developments. This pause is pending audits by the state government, which will investigate water usage practices, specifically whether data centers are using municipal water or bringing in/reusing their own water for cooling.
governmentwatermoratorium
Gov: Governor of Texas, Texas State Government, Texas Municipalities
The audit encompasses several points, including whether the data centers are bringing in their own water or reusing water for cooling, rather than using water used by municipalities across the state, according to a news release from the…