<\/p>\n
Democrat James Talarico (pictured left) and Republican Ken Paxton (pictured right) are in a Nov. 3 election for U.S. Senate in Texas.<\/p>\n
Abigail Dollins<\/p>\n
Fort Worth Star-Telegram<\/p>\n
Data center policy has emerged as a hot-topic in elections across Texas, including in the closely-watched U.S. Senate race between Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico.<\/p>\n
Both candidates have announced data center plans while on the campaign trail. Election Day is Nov. 3 and early voting runs Oct. 19-30.<\/p>\n
How would Paxton and Talarico address the industry\u2019s growth and regulation while in Washington? We break it down.<\/p>\n
Issue: Data Center policiesKen Paxton, Republican<\/p>\n
Paxton proposes authoring legislation that bars the use of Chinese technology for powering American data centers. He would also draft legislation to \u201cprotect children by holding data center companies criminally liable if the center empowers AI chatbots that undermine children\u2019s safety,\u201d according to an Aug. 24 campaign news release.<\/p>\n
The attorney general said he\u2019d co-sponsor the DATA Act<\/a>, which was introduced by Rep. Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Republican, in January. The legislation aims to \u201cto accelerate American energy innovation while also lowering energy costs,\u201d according to a news release from the congressman.<\/p>\n Paxton\u2019s proposal includes supporting Texas Gov. Greg Abbott\u2019s data center plan at the state level. That includes prohibiting the building of AI data centers in rural Texas neighborhoods, best practices for things like setbacks, noise reduction and the repeal of sales tax exemptions, per the news release from Paxton\u2019s campaign.<\/p>\n During a Q&A with the United States Hispanic Business Council, Paxton expressed support for data centers generating their own power to keep electricity rates from going up and data centers recycling the water they use to avoid draining community resources with a closed-loop system.<\/p>\n He said \u201cfeasible restrictions\u201d are needed to prevent harm to people while also creating jobs.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is not an extreme, \u2018yes\u2019 or \u2018no,\u2019\u201d Paxton said. \u201cThis is a yes with conditions.\u201d<\/p>\n James Talarico, Democrat<\/p>\n Talarico proposes ending \u201csweetheart tax deals for big tech companies,\u201d and lowering Texans\u2019 utility costs \u201cby guaranteeing large energy users like data centers fund the infrastructure improvements they need,\u201d according to a July 22 campaign news release.<\/p>\n Talarico also supports empowering communities to decide if they want a data center and creating \u201cminimum federal requirements\u201d for new projects to ensure transparency and to protect the electric grid, the environment and jobs.<\/p>\n He\u2019s called for requiring closed loop systems, accountability for centers that pollute water and transparency around which data centers are getting tax breaks in Texas.<\/p>\n \u201cIf a data center company can\u2019t meet the demands of the community where they seek to operate; if they can\u2019t pay for their own energy; if they can\u2019t pay for their own water and recycle their water; if they can\u2019t get the consent and the input of the people who live in these communities, then they shouldn\u2019t be built,\u201d Talarico said in a Sept. 30 Q&A with the United States Hispanic Business Council. \u201dBut if they can do those things, and it\u2019s a two-way partnership between the community and the data center company, then we should honor local control.\u201d<\/p>\n Talarico proposes an artificial intelligence dividend \u201cso every American citizen owns a piece of\u201d American AI companies.<\/p>\n Talarico\u2019s campaign has criticized Paxton for receiving campaign donations<\/a> from the data center industry.<\/p>\n Follow More of Our Reporting on Reality Check<\/p>\n Eleanor Dearman<\/a><\/p>\n Fort Worth Star-Telegram<\/p>\n Eleanor (Elly) Dearman is a Texas politics and government reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. She\u2019s based in Austin, covering the Legislature and its impact on North Texas. She grew up in Denton and has been a reporter for more than six years.
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