Texas keeps processing data center permits after Abbott pause
Original title: 'It Ain't Right:' Texas Said It Would Halt Data Center Permits. The State is Pushing Ahead Anyway
Nonprofits say TCEQ reviewed more than a dozen permits after September 21; the governor’s office says none were approved.
Public Citizen and FracTracker Alliance say the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality kept working on data center permits after Governor Greg Abbott told it on September 21 to halt them. They cite public records of air-emission certificates, stormwater coverage, and expedited gas-plant reviews, including applications filed in October. Abbott’s office told 404 Media that no permits have been approved and that agencies will not approve data center permits until utility and water reviews finish. A FracTracker researcher said stormwater entries marked approved can be notices of intent under a generic permit, which can be enough to start site work.
Unconfirmed: Abbott’s office denies any approvals, while the nonprofits say reviews and some post-pause actions continued.
- Public Citizen listed more than 15 permits; FracTracker found 35.
- Twelve of 14 gas-plant applications were filed in October; eight used expedited review.
- Texas has about 300 operating data centers, 100 under construction, and 200 planned.
- The Texas Tribune reported Abbott received $9 million from data center developers and owners.
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From the original article
6 min read at 404media.co
“The Caldwell Technology Park [...] the Stargate facility, and a bunch of other very large hyperscale facilities have gotten regulatory approvals [...] so it's not like a real pause."
By Matthew Gault · 404media.co
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