Governor Greg Abbott Declares Texas Data Center Moratorium

Texas Governor Greg Abbott declared a moratorium on new data centers to facilitate a state-led audit of their energy and water usage, community impacts, and government incentives. The directive targets facilities that currently account for approximately 90% of the 474 gigawatts of power requested from the Texas grid. Abbott directed the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas to collect data on these facilities, promising to prioritize the regulation of resource usage and the elimination of tax breaks during the 2027 legislative session.

The move drew immediate criticism from across the political spectrum regarding its legality. Democratic gubernatorial nominee Gina Hinojosa called for a moratorium to remain in place until the legislature can implement protections and community oversight. Republican Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller dismissed the directive as political rhetoric, arguing that it lacks legal authority without new state laws.

Public Citizen and other critics have urged the governor to call a special legislative session, claiming that his current powers are too limited to effect change without immediate lawmaker action. Meanwhile, the governor's office stated that major providers, including Amazon, Google, and Microsoft, are already embracing the new standards.