Civic
Abbott told TCEQ to pause new data-center permits statewide
TCEQ’s compliance update to Abbott is due Oct 19.
August 27, 2026
Council has started a months-long land-use process that could regulate or ban hyperscale data centers. While staff writes the rules, any large-scale project has to come to council.
The Texas Tribune reported Sep 21 that Gov. Greg Abbott ordered the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to halt data-center permits until the Electric Reliability Council of Texas and the Texas Water Development Board finish audits of proposed projects. That is a state permitting pause. Austin’s council process is a separate track, and it is still underway.
Abbott’s Sept. 21 letter says TCEQ has to update his office on compliance by Monday, Oct. 19. That date is the update. The letter does not end the pause on Oct. 19.
Traditional centers up to 20 megawatts are already allowed. The city has 10 of those smaller facilities. The land code has nothing for anything above 75 megawatts.
Sources
- Office of the Governor, Sep. 21 — TCEQ pauses permits sought by data centers until ERCOT completes its audit; compliance update to the governor is due Oct. 19
- Texas Tribune, Sep 21 — Abbott ordered TCEQ to stop issuing data-center permits until ERCOT and TWDB complete audits of electricity use, water use, community impact, ownership, and tax breaks
- KUT
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