Gina Hinojosa has called on Gov. Greg Abbott to issue an emergency executive order pausing new data centers until the Texas Legislature establishes statewide rules. Abbott’s office, in a separate July 23 announcement, outlined expectations for data-center projects and legislation he intends to pursue.
That leaves DFW readers with two distinct policy approaches: a proposed statewide pause and project standards addressing costs, power, water use and neighborhood effects.
How the approaches differ
In her announcement, Hinojosa centers her proposal on stopping new facilities until lawmakers set statewide rules. Her stated priorities include local input, disclosure, protections against household utility costs and safeguards tied to community water supplies.
Abbott’s office says new data centers should pay their infrastructure costs, add generation, use water-efficient cooling and mitigate neighborhood impacts. The governor’s announcement also says he will seek legislation requiring usage reports and reconsidering incentives.
What is known — and unresolved
- Known: Hinojosa is requesting an executive order that would pause new data centers until the Legislature establishes statewide rules.
- Known: Abbott’s position sets expectations for project costs, electricity generation, cooling and neighborhood effects while leaving reporting and incentive changes for proposed legislation.
- Unresolved: The moratorium request does not specify its legal authority, duration, project-size threshold or treatment of projects that already have permits.
