Texas Governor Greg Abbott has proposed a ban on data centers in rural Texas, citing concerns over their impact on local communities. Abbott made the announcement at an event in East Texas, where he discussed property taxes and the need for more regulation of data centers.

Data Center Debate

Abbott’s comments mark a shift from his previous stance on the issue. Last November, he attended an event with Google’s CEO in Midlothian, where the company announced plans to build two new data centers in Haskell and Armstrong counties. At the time, Abbott praised the development, saying it would make Texas a hub for Google’s AI data center operations.

However, recent polls have shown that many Texans are opposed to the construction of data centers in their communities. A survey conducted by the University of Texas’ Texas Politics Project found that 56% of voters opposed the construction of data centers, while only 29% supported it.

Rice University political analyst Mark Jones believes that Abbott’s proposal is a response to growing concerns over the environmental and social impact of data centers. ‘It’s a mixed issue,’ Jones said. ‘Texans like the benefits of data centers, but they don’t want them in their backyard. And in rural areas, the definition of “backyard” becomes much broader.’

Abbott’s proposal is likely to be met with resistance from the tech industry, which has been investing heavily in data center development in Texas. However, it may also resonate with rural communities that have been concerned about the impact of data centers on their water and electricity supplies.

Original reporting: Dallas – Ft. Worth Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.