Summary
Governor Abbott is looking to rein in the massive data centers popping up across Texas by cutting their tax breaks and tightening grid regulations. It’s a move to make sure these energy-hungry facilities stop straining our local power supply and start paying their fair share.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 7
- Last 30 days
- 3
Impact analysis
You might see lower utility bills or more stable energy prices if these centers are forced to pay more for the massive amount of power they consume.
Local taxpayers and everyday residents who have been footing the bill for the grid strain caused by these tech giants.
Tech companies and developers who rely on these tax breaks to keep their massive server farms profitable.
Mentions & discussions (8)
Texas environmental agency shuts down online permit filing system after data center controversy
Texas environmental officials disabled an online filing system after watchdog groups raised concerns about the agency issuing permits related to data centers.
Greg Abbott ordered a pause on data center permits. Critics say some plans still moved forward.
Public Citizen said the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality hadn’t stopped issuing data center permits as required. The agency said it was complying with the directive.
Despite tough talk from Abbott and Paxton, Texas penalties for data center violations are light
Texas officials are promising tougher enforcement on data centers, but the existing law may offer limited leverage over the industry that has largely failed to report its water use.
Gov. Greg Abbott orders Texas water agency to penalize data centers that don’t report their water usage
Last year, less than 30% of data centers responded to a state-mandated water usage survey conducted by the Texas Water Development Board.
Find data centers near you in Texas with our search tools
These resources can help you locate data centers that are planned or operating in your community and who regulates them.
TribCast: A data center proponent makes his case
In this week's podcast, former Public Utilities Commission member Will McAdams, president of the McAdams Energy Group, describes why he thinks data centers are necessary and shouldn’t be overly regulated.
After years of hardship, Texas agriculture faces a new threat: data centers
Data centers and agriculture depend on many of the same resources, such as water, land and electricity, which has some in the industry worried about the future.
Abbott recommends sweeping data center regulation, including eliminating sales tax exemption
The recommendations for legislative action amount to a striking call for industry regulation by the Republican governor in a state that has long prided itself on being a favorable environment for business.
We'll email you when it's on an upcoming agenda and when it's voted on, at most once a day.
The weekly brief for Harris County
What the council decided, in plain English — one email a week.
Free. Unsubscribe with one click any time. We never sell your email.