Data centers and energy · Regulation and law
Texas froze new data center permits
On September 21 Governor Greg Abbott told the state’s environmental agency to stop issuing new permits until grid operator ERCOT, the Public Utility Commission and the Water Development Board finish their audit of new data centers. The audit will cover electricity and water use, grid reliability and the impact on local communities, and is due to finish in December. Under the directive, projects must cover all electrical infrastructure costs, lower residential power bills and avoid using water local communities need. In August Abbott had already halted new grid connection approvals for data centers. Data centers have become an issue in the midterms, including Abbott’s own re-election race.
Sources
- Office of the Texas Governor, “Governor Abbott Directs TCEQ To Halt Data Center Permits”, (gov.texas.gov)
- Office of the Texas Governor, “Governor Abbott Directs Comprehensive Data Center Audit”, (gov.texas.gov)
- The Texas Tribune, “Gov. Greg Abbott broadens moratorium on data center approvals to include environmental permits”, (texastribune.org)
- Inside Climate News, “ERCOT Says Abbott’s Data Center Audit Will Be Done in December”, (insideclimatenews.org)
About this story
This story was posted on Instagram by @jarrus.tech on Sept. 29, 2026.
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