Trump calls Texas’ data center opposition a “mistake”

Former President Donald Trump publicly criticized Texas Governor Greg Abbott's decision to pause approvals for data centers seeking to connect to the state's power grid, calling it a "mistake" in an interview with Punchbowl News. Trump argued that communities desire such investments for economic benefits.

Governor Abbott's office issued the statewide moratorium, requiring state regulatory agencies to conduct a comprehensive audit of proposed data centers. This audit will investigate power and water consumption, cooling methods, efforts to mitigate community impacts, and ownership structures, with any project failing the audit to be denied grid connection. The governor's action marks a shift from his previous pro-business stance, which included praising Google's $40 billion investment in the state for data center development.

The pause comes amid significant opposition from Texas constituents, particularly in rural areas, who are concerned about data centers draining local water supplies, increasing electricity costs, and causing noise, light, and air pollution. The debate has positioned Texas conservatives between Trump's economic development views and the demands of an increasingly vocal populace. Democratic opponent Gina Hinojosa has also capitalized on the issue, criticizing Abbott's pause as insufficient while noting his past financial ties to data center CEOs.