Abbott Orders Audit of Texas Data Centers Seeking Grid Access
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has ordered state regulators to audit all data centers seeking access to the state's electric grid. This directive effectively pauses grid approvals for these projects until the reviews are complete to ensure compliance with state requirements.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has issued a directive for state regulators to audit all data centers requesting access to the state's electric grid. This action, announced Monday, effectively places a temporary hold on grid approvals for these projects until the necessary reviews are finished.
The audit, ordered by Gov. Abbott, requires the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) to verify all data center projects currently progressing through ERCOT's interconnection process. Any projects found not to meet state requirements will be denied grid connection.
The governor's directive did not specify a timeline for the completion of these reviews. ERCOT is currently managing approximately 474 gigawatts of requests for grid connections, a figure more than five times the record peak electricity demand for Texas.