Gov. Abbott’s Proposed Data Center Regulations Lack One Thing: Urgency
Texans need assurances or a moratorium now, Public Citizen says
AUSTIN, Texas — On Wednesday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott finally acknowledged the pleas of Texans across the state by proposing guardrails for data centers, a move that Public Citizen says will mean little without swift action or a statewide moratorium.
In a letter to the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the state’s grid operator, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, Abbott directed the agencies to take action under their existing authority and to develop new rules that could be codified by the Texas Legislature when it next meets, starting in January. Adrian Shelley, Texas director of Public Citizen, issued the following statement:
“‘Better late than never’ regulations won’t cut it. Communities need action now. The legislative session is about seven months away. Even if data center legislation is fast-tracked as an emergency item and signed into law, you’re looking at almost a year, at least, before local leaders have whatever tools state lawmakers decide to give them. That timeline is a gift to an industry that is moving so fast that county and city governments can’t keep up. Gov. Abbott should convene a special session to address this crisis now, or declare a statewide moratorium on data center construction until sensible safeguards are in place. For some communities, it is already too late. In a year, it could be too late for many others.”