Verdant Industries LLC

Texas data center permits advance despite state freeze, watchdog reports

Public Citizen says the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality continued advancing water, stormwater and air permit actions for data center-related projects despite Gov. Greg Abbott’s directive to pause permits. Residents near Lufkin, Hubbard, Abilene and other communities say ongoing reviews and construction are making it difficult to understand whether the freeze is active or to meet public-comment deadlines.