Texas has paused construction on nearly 2,000 data centers so regulators can audit projects waiting to connect to the state's power grid. Governor Greg Abbott ordered the review in a letter to the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, known as ERCOT.
ERCOT is currently tracking more than 1,800 projects in its connection queue, with combined capacity exceeding 474 gigawatts, more than five times the grid's record peak demand. Not all of the projects are data centers, but about 90% of them are.
Most Projects Have Not Broken Ground
According to the Texas Tribune, the state currently has at least 335 operating data centers, with at least 248 more already planned for construction. The remaining projects are in earlier stages of development but have already joined the queue for grid connection.
Abbott's audit requires data center operators to disclose the tax incentives they receive, their electricity consumption and production, water use and cooling systems, measures to limit impact on local communities, and facility ownership. It is not known how long the review will take.
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