Texas governor orders audit of new data centers after realizing over 400 gigawatts of power is a lot

Anna Washenko· Aug 4, 2026 · 10:48 PM UTC ·1 min read · 0 reactions · 0 comments · 3 views

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Texas Governor Greg Abbott has ordered an audit of new data centers in the state due to concerns over their high power consumption. The state is already home to over 500 data centers, with more than 474 gigawatts in requests to connect to the electric grid, mostly from data centers. The audit aims to review the ownership, finances, power needs, and environmental impact of proposed data centers to ensure the reliability and stability of the Texas electric grid.

Key facts

▪The state of Texas is home to over 521 data centers, the second-most in the country.
▪More than 90 percent of the 474 gigawatts in requests to connect to the state's electric grids come from data centers.
▪The high power consumption of data centers has raised concerns about their impact on the reliability and stability of the Texas electric grid.

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Original publisher	Engadget
Canonical URL	https://www.engadget.com/2230511/texas-governor-orders-audit-of-new-data-centers-after-realizing-over-400-gigawatts-of-power-is-a-lot/
Publication time	Tue, 04 Aug 2026 22:48:48 +0000
Retrieval time	2026-08-04T22:50:41.468Z
Last seen	2026-08-04T22:50:41.468Z
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Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand

News AI Texas governor orders audit of new data centers after realizing over 400 gigawatts of power is a lot The state already hosts more than 500 data centers. By Anna Washenko Aug. 4, 2026 6:48 pm EST Tim Warner/Getty Images Governor Greg Abbott has ordered that Texas utility commissions must conduct a review of any proposed new data centers in the state. In response to the order, the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) must collect information about potential new data centers' ownership and finances as well as their planned power needs, water use and approach to minimizing the negative impact on residents. According to third-party statistics, Texas is home to 521 data centers.

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