Governor Abbott announces data center firms to meet Texas standards
Governor Greg Abbott announced that data center companies Skybox, Digital Realty, and Mara will comply with new statewide standards established to protect Texas's electric grid, conserve water, and respect communities. These standards mandate an audit process by the PUCT and ERCOT to ensure data centers do not negatively impact Texas families or the existing infrastructure. Companies failing to comply will have their project approvals denied.
Governor Greg Abbott announced on August 7, 2026, from Austin, Texas, that data center companies Skybox, Digital Realty, and Mara have committed to complying with newly established statewide standards for data center operations. These standards, developed by the Governor earlier in the summer, aim to safeguard Texas's electric grid, conserve water resources, and protect local communities from adverse impacts.
According to Governor Abbott, these "clear guardrails" ensure that data center development will not impose additional costs on Texas families or diminish their quality of life. He has directed the Public Utilities Commission of Texas (PUCT) and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) to enforce these directives, which include a comprehensive audit process for each data center project.
The PUCT and ERCOT are tasked with scrutinizing projects to ensure they protect grid stability, conserve water, minimize neighborhood impact, and pay their own way. Data center companies must provide detailed information for this audit, and any failure to comply with ERCOT's audit process will result in the denial of project approval, emphasizing the state's commitment to responsible data center growth.