Texas governor orders halt to data center permits pending ERCOT audit
Gov. Greg Abbott ordered the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to stop all data‑center‑related permits until the Electric Reliability Council of Texas finishes an audit of the waitlist for facilities seeking grid connections. The audit, first ordered in August alongside a moratorium on new grid approvals, now also covers environmental approvals.
Key points
- Gov. Greg Abbott ordered a halt to all data center permits until ERCOT completes its audit.
- A February JLL report projected Texas would surpass Virginia as the world’s largest data center market by decade’s end.
- NBC News poll shows 64% of Americans would be less likely to vote for a candidate supporting local data centers.
A February JLL report said Texas was on track to overtake Virginia as the world’s largest data‑center market by the decade’s end. The pause arrives as data‑center buildout has become a breakout issue in the 2026 midterm election; an NBC News poll found 64% of Americans would be less likely to vote for a candidate who “supports building local data centers.” Abbott, running for a fourth term against Rep. Gina Hinojosa, has reversed his 2025 claim that Texas, with sales‑tax exemptions and projects like OpenAI’s Stargate, would be the “epicenter of AI development.” The TCEQ must update the governor’s office on compliance by Oct. 19.
Texas Gov. Abbott orders data center permit halt weeks after issuing moratorium
CNBC Technology · 21 September 2026
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2sources- Texas turning blue may hinge on Democrats harnessing data center oppositionPress · CNBC Technology ·
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