BIG COUNTRY, Texas — As Texas sees a boom in AI data center development, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller is calling for a temporary pause, citing concerns about the long-term environmental and community impacts.
Texas agriculture commissioner calls for pause on AI data centers amid impact concerns
Miller said in a statement that Texas is moving too quickly to approve new data centers without fully understanding their long-term effects.
He is asking state leaders to take a step back and study how the projects could affect farmland, electricity demand and water resources.
Texas agriculture commissioner calls for pause on AI data centers amid impact concerns
“They’re building these things on our very most productive farmland,” Miller said. “We need to stop and pause and figure out what’s this going to do to our electric grid. What’s it going to do to our power source?”
Texas agriculture commissioner calls for pause on AI data centers amid impact concerns
Miller also raised questions about how much power data centers will use and whether facilities that generate their own electricity will contribute power back to the grid.
Miller said the goal of a moratorium would be to create time for research and planning.
Texas agriculture commissioner calls for pause on AI data centers amid impact concerns
“That’s the exact purpose of the moratorium is to give us time,” he said. “Let’s do the studies. Let’s figure out the answers to all these questions.”
Miller said the rapid growth of data centers is already creating challenges for some Texas communities, including Abilene.
Texas agriculture commissioner calls for pause on AI data centers amid impact concerns
He pointed to rising property values, rental costs and other pressures he believes are connected to the industry’s expansion.
“80% of the people are against the data centers now. They’re just doing too much damage,” Miller said. “It’s outrageous what it’s doing to our communities.”