Texas Gov. Abbott Halts New Data Center Approvals, Orders Grid Audit Amid Surging Energy Demand

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott halts new data center approvals and orders a grid audit as ERCOT faces a staggering 474 gigawatts of pending electricity demand — roughly 90% from data centers — though critics argue the move lacks real enforcement power and demand a special legislative session.

• Gov. Greg Abbott announces a moratorium on new data center approvals in Texas, directing the Public Utility Commission of Texas and ERCOT to audit all data centers seeking connection to the state's electric grid before any approvals can move forward.
• ERCOT, which is tracking over 1,800 projects representing 474 gigawatts of electricity in its interconnection queue — roughly 90% of which are data centers — pauses its ongoing 'batch zero' review in response to Abbott's directive.
• Critics, including Texas Department of Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller and Democratic lawmakers, argue Abbott's directive falls short of a true moratorium and call for a special legislative session to pass binding laws with real enforcement power over the data center industry.