Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said regulations on data centers are overdue, pointing to concerns about the state’s power grid and future demand.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Data centers are drawing increased attention from state and local leaders as communities work to balance economic growth with concerns about power use, infrastructure and local impacts.
The Texas Senate Finance Committee met this week to discuss the impact of data centers across the state, while leaders in Corpus Christi are working to develop guidelines for future projects.
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“The public has yet to really understand how much they use data centers already. Everything on this phone, almost everything is data centers,” said Texas Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston.
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said regulations on data centers are overdue, pointing to concerns about the state’s power grid and future demand.
“Very trecherious time we’re going way to fast,” he said. “We have a capacity about 109 so we’re still ok. but the data centers that are online and have applied to hook up to the grid, that will be 500 megawats. We can’t do that, that dog won’t huNT”
In the Coastal Bend, the Corpus Christi City Council recently agreed to develop land regulations for future data center projects.
At-large Councilman Mark Scott said recent data center proposals have shown a pattern of companies choosing locations outside city limits.
“There’s a reason why they’re building these in counties because they’re avoiding the city regulations,” he said.
Scott said city leaders are trying to find a balance between protecting private property rights and ensuring new data centers do not negatively affect surrounding communities.
“What you do with your property is your business I just don’t want it to impact what I do with my property. I think that’s the comfort level we’re trying to get with our regulations,” he said.
3NEWS asked Gov. Greg Abbott’s office about potential data center regulations and the possibility of a special legislative session.
In a statement, a spokesperson said:
“Governor Abbott has been clear that data centers cannot come before Texas families. That is why he directed the PUC and ERCOT to require data centers to pay for their own infrastructure, bring their own power, reuse their own water, and lower residential electric bills. These steps protect Texans from higher costs and negative impacts on their communities. Governor Abbott will continue to work with the Legislature to protect Texans and ensure their voices are heard.”