In the month since Gov. Greg Abbott directed the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to pause all data‑center permits, the agency has continued to move a number of applications forward. The activity was uncovered in a recent analysis by FracTracker, an oil‑and‑gas watchdog, and the consumer‑rights group Public Citizen.

What the records show

According to TCEQ records through Oct. 16, the agency:

• Fast‑tracked or assigned engineers to 14 power‑generation projects that would serve data centers.
• Approved stormwater coverage for 11 applications, a step that can keep projects on track for construction.
• Issued certifications establishing air‑emissions limits for seven applications.
• Mailed public notices for three applications.

In total, at least 35 data‑center‑related applications have been advanced since the pause was announced on Sept. 21.

Governor’s office response

Abbott’s press secretary, Andrew Mahaleris, reiterated the governor’s directive on Oct. 20, stating, “No permits have been approved. In line with the governor’s directive, TCEQ has not taken and will not take any proactive actions related to the approval of data center permits.” The governor’s office also emphasized that the pause remains in effect until the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) completes its audit of proposed data‑center projects, expected in late November.

Agency’s explanation

TCEQ spokesperson Victoria Cann told Community Impact that the commission “has not issued any permits related to data centers.” The agency’s internal memo, provided to the outlet, notes that officials are screening applications and pausing those that fall under the governor’s directive.

Political criticism

State Rep. Gina Hinojosa, a Democratic challenger to Abbott, accused the governor of using the pause as an “election‑year stunt.” She said, “Greg Abbott’s tough talk on data centers is nothing more than an election year stunt. Abbott invited these data centers to Texas with the richest tax breaks in the country, and then pretended to pause approvals for political gain.”

Why the permits matter

Construction projects that disturb at least one acre of land—including data centers—generally require stormwater and air‑quality permits from the TCEQ. While the agency’s website states that applications for data‑center‑related construction are halted, stormwater permits for several projects, such as EdgeConneX’s second campus in Bastrop County, were listed as “active” at press time.

Next steps

ERCOT is slated to finish its audit of proposed data‑center projects in late November and release its findings in early December. Abbott has indicated that the TCEQ should resume permitting only after that review is complete, suggesting that the current pause could extend into the new year.

The ongoing tension between the governor’s directive and the agency’s processing of permits highlights the broader debate over Texas’s rapidly expanding data‑center industry and its impact on the state’s energy grid, water resources, and local communities.

Original reporting: Community Impact — Plano — read the source article.