Texas Governor Greg Abbott just ordered a pause on approving new data center projects via the state’s grid interconnection process over concerns that a surge in electricity demand could threaten reliability amid growing opposition to the projects.
The timing couldn’t be worse - as Texas is on the cusp of becoming one of the world’s largest hubs for data-centers, with Reuters citing industry forecasts that it could surpass Virginia by 2030 thanks to abundant land, energy, and a business-friendly environment.
Under Abbott’s directive, developers will now need to provide ‘more info on power demand, water use, tax incentives, ownership, and efforts to mitigate local impacts’
