Texas Data Center Power Requests Exceed Grid Capacity

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas reported that data center power requests reached 466,497 megawatts as of June, a figure more than five times the highest amount of power the grid has ever provided. This surge is driven by a boom in artificial intelligence development, leading to a proliferation of data center proposals across the state.

Despite the scale of these requests, developers frequently use shell companies and nondisclosure agreements to shield proprietary information from the public. Access to data regarding energy use, water consumption, and tax breaks remains limited, often requiring fragmented searches of local records or formal Texas Public Information Act requests.

While companies such as Meta Platforms Inc. and EdgeConneX have participated in town halls in El Paso and Bastrop, much of the industry's operational data remains protected by state laws. In response, Public Citizen is advocating for more stringent permitting processes to ensure the public can provide input on air pollution and environmental impacts before construction begins.