Abbott turns up heat on data centers with water use directive
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has ordered the Texas Water Development Board to penalize data centers that have not properly reported their water usage. This directive emphasizes the state's water code requirements, aiming to ensure data centers comply and protect Texas's water supply.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a directive to the Texas Water Development Board, ordering the state regulatory body to enforce the Texas Water Code by penalizing data centers that have failed to accurately report their water usage. The Governor highlighted that data centers, which require significant electricity and vast amounts of water for cooling, must "share the duty to protect Texas water" by complying with existing water use survey requirements.
Abbott specifically directed the board to levy legal consequences for both past non-compliance and any future failures. This move by Governor Abbott comes approximately six weeks before the midterm elections, where he is seeking re-election in what polls suggest is a more competitive race than usual for the state. The directive underscores growing concerns about data center expansion and its potential impact on local energy costs and water supplies.