Texas Senate Race Heats Up Over Ken Paxton Probe Into Data Center Water Use

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched an investigation into the water usage of numerous data centers in the state of Texas, amid a contentious political race for the U.S. Senate. This development has heightened tensions between Paxton and Democratic state Representative James Talarico, the opposition candidate in the closely contested Senate race.

The controversy stems from recent polls revealing that only 20 percent of Americans support the construction of data centers, with a significant portion of the public opposing it.

Paxton's probe focuses on data centers that failed to submit their water usage data to the Texas Water Development Board's survey, demanding full compliance with state laws. He maintains that the investigation aims to ensure transparency and adherence to legal obligations. Paxton has singled out 18 counties for initial scrutiny and accused certain data center developers of "blatantly disregarding their legal obligations to Texas and our citizens."

Democratic candidate Talarico countered Paxton's actions, accusing him of reversing his previous stance on data centers and citing the Texas Attorney General's receipt of substantial campaign contributions from the industry. He argues that Paxton is now attempting to regulate the same data centers he facilitated in the past. Talarico has called for stronger regulations governing data center development in response to growing concerns about their environmental impact.

The issue of data centers has become a crucial political flashpoint across the United States, with some states, including Texas, implementing moratoriums on their construction. Republican Governor Greg Abbott has also joined the fray, pledging to introduce legislation prohibiting the use of Chinese technology in data centers and making data center companies liable for enabling AI chatbots that could harm children.

However, the investigations by Paxton highlight the Republicans' recognition of the vulnerability of their position and their attempts to shift their stance accordingly.