Texas suspends 17 data center permits and shuts STEERS portal
Original title: Portal Texas Used to ‘Rubber Stamp’ Data Centers Down After 404 Media Reporting
TCEQ says staff will now review automatic filings to see whether they relate to data centers.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality shut down STEERS, its automated construction-permit portal, and suspended 17 data center permits after reporting that approvals continued despite a September pause called for by Governor Greg Abbott. Watchdog reports described more than two dozen permits; 404 Media saw 17 stormwater construction permits moved from active to suspended, including filings a researcher linked to OpenAI and Amazon. TCEQ did not respond to comment requests.
Unconfirmed: TCEQ has not publicly confirmed why individual permits were suspended or whether construction continued.
- The suspended permits cover stormwater construction approvals.
- STEERS showed a 404 error on Tuesday and a shutdown notice by Wednesday.
- A researcher said contractors may not know construction was suspended.
- TCEQ and the commission did not answer outreach, according to the report.
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- STEERS
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From the original article
2 min read at 404media.co
Commissioners in Texas said they’re making sure ‘all applications are reviewed by agency staff to determine if they are related to data centers.’
By Matthew Gault · 404media.co
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