Texas Took 35 Data Center Permit Steps After Abbott Pause, Report Says

Texas environmental regulators continued taking steps on data-center-related permit applications after Gov. Greg Abbott ordered a pause on Sept. 21, according to analyses of public records by FracTracker Alliance and Public Citizen. The groups identified 35 subsequent actions, including assigning engineers or advancing applications for gas-fired power projects, approving stormwater coverage, certifying emissions limits and issuing public notices. Abbott’s office says no new permits have been approved and that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality will not take proactive steps toward approval while the state reviews data centers’ effects on water resources and grid reliability. The findings have fueled criticism from the groups and local advocates, who say the agency’s ongoing work is inconsistent with the pause.