The Texas attorney general’s office has issued warnings to 156 data centers across more than 30 counties, urging them to adhere to mandatory water usage reporting requirements. This move is part of a broader initiative stemming from Governor Greg Abbott’s directive to pause the approval of new data center projects until a comprehensive audit of their impact on the state’s power and water resources is completed.
Attorney General Ken Paxton emphasized that data centers are legally obligated to respond to the Texas Water Development Board’s water use survey, a requirement that many have reportedly overlooked. The attorney general’s office announced this outreach on Thursday, although specific details about the contents of the letters have not been disclosed.
In a statement, Paxton remarked, “Data center developers must follow the law and respect the Texans and communities affected by their operations.” This statement underscores the importance of accountability as the state grapples with the implications of expanding data center operations.
The letters are being sent to facilities located in a variety of counties, including Bexar, Brazos, Cameron, Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ector, El Paso, Glasscock, Harris, Hidalgo, Hood, Lubbock, Maverick, McLennan, Midland, Montgomery, Nacogdoches, Nueces, Pecos, Potter, Randall, Sherman, Tarrant, Tom Green, Travis, Victoria, Waller, Ward, Webb, Wichita, and Williamson.
This initiative coincides with a statewide audit aimed at assessing the potential effects of data centers on Texas’ power grid and natural resources. Following an August directive from Governor Abbott, state energy regulators have been instructed to halt approvals for any new data center projects until the audit is finalized. The disclosure of water usage data is a crucial component of this audit.
Additionally, the governor has tasked the state’s water development board with imposing penalties on significant water users, including data centers, that fail to comply with these reporting requirements.
Failure to meet these obligations could result in some data center projects becoming ineligible for necessary permits and renewals, along with the risk of incurring fines, as stated by officials.
