Data Center Signal is tracking 20 clips about Diode data center developments across 2 states, including TX, MO.
Google, Rowan, and CleanSpark have committed to new regulatory standards in Texas for data centers. These statewide rules, overseen by PUCT and ERCOT, address impacts on the power grid, water supplies, and local communities. Developers must now meet stringent disclosure and operational requirements to connect to the state's electric grid.
Google, Rowan, and CleanSpark have committed to new Texas data center standards under Gov. Abbott's directive, which addresses electricity demand, water usage, and community impacts. This move comes after a proposed data center by Diode in Henderson County was withdrawn for failing to meet these new state guidelines. The standards require developers to disclose information on energy, water, and community effects to state regulators before projects can proceed.
Several major data center companies, including Skybox Datacenters, Digital Realty, and MARA, have agreed to comply with new Texas standards aimed at protecting the state's electric grid, water resources, and residential ratepayers. These standards require developers to pay for infrastructure, detail on-site power generation, identify water usage and conservation methods, and mitigate community impacts. One company, Diode, has already abandoned a project in Henderson County due to inability to meet these new requirements.
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller is urging Governor Greg Abbott to call a special legislative session to address the rapid growth of data centers, citing concerns about strain on the state's water supply, electric grid, and agriculture. This push comes amidst public protests and makes data centers a major campaign issue, with the Governor recently expressing opposition to certain data center practices, leading to one project being scrapped. Miller also highlights alleged campaign contributions from the data center industry to the Governor's campaign.
Country music legend Willie Nelson has spoken out against data center development, specifically targeting a project in his hometown of Abbott, Texas, due to concerns about environmental impact and resource consumption. His statement comes amidst escalating statewide opposition to data centers, which includes legal action in Hill County and a project halt near Cedar Creek Lake.
Country music icon Willie Nelson has publicly condemned data center development, specifically in his hometown of Abbott, Texas, citing environmental damage, water consumption, and light pollution. He urges Texans to fight against such developments, which he believes threaten rural land and livelihoods. The article also references other instances of data center opposition and legal actions in Texas.
Residents in Bastrop County, Texas, held a town hall to advocate for increased transparency and local oversight of data center development, citing concerns over water, electricity, and land use. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller proposed a one-year moratorium on new data center projects, while Governor Greg Abbott announced plans for new legislation to require usage reporting and eliminate certain tax incentives statewide.
Country music icon Willie Nelson has publicly condemned data center developments, specifically in his hometown of Abbott, Hill County, Texas, citing environmental concerns like water usage and light pollution. This comes amid broader opposition across Texas, where a project by Diode was halted, Temple residents attempted recalls over a data center vote, and Hill County settled a lawsuit related to an attempted moratorium.
Texans, including State Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, rallied at the Capitol in Austin, calling for a pause on data center developments and new statewide regulations. This action follows the successful opposition campaign in rural Henderson County, which led developer Diode to withdraw its proposed data center project due to concerns over water usage from Cedar Creek Lake.
Texas state agencies, the Public Utility Commission (PUC) and Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), have outlined new policies to regulate data centers connecting to the state grid, aiming to ensure data center companies bear the costs of growth. These policies, spurred by a gubernatorial order, include evaluating large projects in batches and requiring companies to pay for necessary grid infrastructure. Meanwhile, several politicians have called for a moratorium on data center development, citing concerns over water and electricity use, and one developer, Diode, withdrew a project in East Texas due to pushback.
Grassroots organizations in Texas are holding a "week of action" to protest data center expansion, citing concerns about environmental harm, water usage, and strain on the electric grid. They are urging Governor Abbott and state lawmakers to enact a moratorium on development and repeal tax exemptions for data centers. Governor Abbott has already issued a directive requiring data centers to pay for infrastructure costs and adopt water-efficient and noise-reducing technologies, leading one company, Diode, to withdraw its project.
Diode has withdrawn its plans for a data center near Cedar Creek Lake in Henderson County, Texas. The company determined the project did not meet Governor Greg Abbott's directives or community expectations regarding environmental impact, power grid strain, and water usage. Governor Abbott praised the decision and announced intentions to pursue legislation codifying these standards for all data centers in the state.
Democratic Texas governor candidate Gina Hinojosa urged Gov. Greg Abbott to enact an emergency executive order for a statewide moratorium on new data center development, citing concerns over water resources, rising utility bills, health impacts, and lack of local control. Her call was supported by Texans from various communities, including El Paso, Henderson County, and Granbury, who shared grievances about existing and proposed data centers. While Abbott declined to comment on the moratorium, his office had previously directed utility commissions to protect ratepayers from data center costs and noted a recent project near Cedar Creek Lake was dropped due to community expectations.
Texas state leaders are praising Diode's decision to withdraw its proposed data center project in Henderson County. Governor Greg Abbott cited concerns about community impacts, water resources, and the power grid. He plans to pursue new state requirements for future data center developments.
Diode's proposed data center project near Cedar Creek Lake in Henderson County, Texas, has been canceled. The decision followed the project's failure to meet Governor Greg Abbott's directives regarding data center expansion and local community expectations, particularly concerning electricity costs and environmental impacts. Residents had also protested the proposed AI data center projects in rural Texas.
A proposed data center project by Diode in Henderson County, Texas, has been scrapped because it failed to meet the state's expectations for protecting local communities, natural resources, and the power grid. Governor Greg Abbott also announced plans to seek legislation requiring large data centers to report electricity and water usage and eliminate certain sales tax exemptions and incentives.
Diode has withdrawn its proposed data center project near Cedar Creek Lake in Henderson County, Texas. The company stated the project did not meet Governor Abbott's directives or community expectations for data center developments. Governor Abbott emphasized the state's commitment to protecting natural resources, the power grid, and community quality of life.
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa has urged Gov. Greg Abbott to impose a statewide moratorium on data center construction until new regulations are established by lawmakers. This call comes amidst growing public backlash against data centers in rural Texas, prompting Abbott to previously direct regulators to prevent utility cost-shifting to ratepayers and to consider repealing tax exemptions. A data center developer, Diode, recently withdrew a project in Henderson County, citing the governor's directives.
Diode will not proceed with a proposed data center near Cedar Creek Lake in Henderson County, Texas, after Governor Greg Abbott announced the project failed to meet state standards. Abbott stated that Texas requires companies to prioritize communities, natural resources, and the power grid, and will seek legislation to codify these expectations. He warned other data center developers to meet these standards or withdraw their projects.
The small Missouri city of Peculiar successfully blocked a proposed data center project from Diode years ago through a zoning change and a temporary moratorium. Residents and city officials organized against the development, citing concerns about community character, environment, and property values. Current officials express no regrets as the city continues to grow without the data center.