// THE VERGE — MONDO
Texas says data centers must pass an audit before connecting to the grid
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It’s the second-largest data center market behind Virginia.
It’s the second-largest data center market behind Virginia.
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Texas announced new a audit on data centers that could slow approval for new facilities seeking to connect to the state energy grid.
Governor Greg Abbott (R) on Monday directed the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) to verify and audit new data center proposals, writing that the review is needed to “keep the grid stable and reliable.” Data centers will need to provide information on state and local incentives they’ve received, how much they’d rely on the state grid, expected water consumption and sources, and how they plan to track community impacts including noise.
It’s not clear how long the audit will take, and the extent to which it could slow development. Some parts of Texas, like El Paso, fall outside of ERCOT’s domain, The Texas Tribune notes, and some data centers can opt to generate power on-site, rather than connecting to the state energy grid. But following New York’s data center moratorium, it’s a signal that elected leaders across the country are recognizing a bipartisan desire to pump the brakes on energy-intensive projects.