Texas Governor Abbott Orders Data Center Reporting Enforcement

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has directed the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) to penalize data centers for failing to report their water usage. Abbott stated that data centers must comply with state law and share the responsibility to protect Texas water. TWDB will enforce legal consequences for noncompliance and partner with ERCOT on an audit of data centers to gather more information on water use. The Texas Water Code requires a complete and accurate water use survey, and data centers that fail to comply may face criminal penalties and be ineligible for TCEQ permits.