Abbott Orders a Halt on All Data Center Permits
The order requires developers to cover infrastructure costs and disclose power and water use before permits resume.
- On Monday, Governor Greg Abbott ordered the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to halt all data center permits until the Electric Reliability Council of Texas completes its comprehensive audit of grid and community impacts.
- ERCOT and the Texas Water Development Board are surveying more than 400 data centers to ensure their development does not compromise grid reliability or natural resources. This directive expands Abbott's earlier August pause on new data center approvals.
- Developers with pending projects must disclose energy generation plans, water usage, and cooling technology. Abbott said, "Data centers must pay their own way, protect our grid and water, and complete the ERCOT and TWDB audits."
- The TCEQ must provide an update on compliance by October 19, 2026. Abbott plans to work with the Legislature to "eliminate any financial incentives for data centers" during the next legislative session.
- Exceptions to the order include smaller data centers and those building independent power plants. "Simply put, Texans must come first," Abbott said, emphasizing that projects must meet state requirements before receiving regulatory approval.
52 Articles
52 Articles
Abbott Directs TCEQ To Halt New Data Center Permits
Gov. Greg Abbott has directed the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to stop issuing permits sought by data center projects while state agencies study the facilities’ effects on the electric grid and water supplies. Abbott said no The post Abbott Directs TCEQ To Halt New Data Center Permits appeared first on KLBJ-AM - Austin, TX.
Texas Pauses New Data Center Permits Amid Power Grid Strain from AI and Crypto Demand
Texas has paused new data center permits while regulators audit the facilities’ impact on the strained electrical grid, following warnings about surging summer demand from power-hungry AI, cloud, and crypto operations. The review aims to balance tech growth with infrastructure limits.
In the face of the growing indignation of rural voters over the excessive consumption of water and the rise in the cost of electricity, Abbott gave a severe political turnaround weeks before contesting re-election against Democrat Gina Hinojosa.After promoting Texas as the "world epicenter of the AI" with tax exemptions and mega-works like OpenAI's Stargate, the president also announced that he will seek to eliminate tax incentives in the next l…
Texas Governor Orders Halt To New Data Centers Weeks After Issuing Moratorium
Texas Governor Orders Halt To New Data Centers Weeks After Issuing Moratorium One month after Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered a pause on Texas data center approvals pending an audit, overnight the governor doubled down and ordered the state’s environmental watchdog to withhold permits for new data centers until an audit of risks to the power grid is complete. No authorizations can be given until the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, or E…
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