Texas has suspended 17 data center construction permits and shut down automated portal that rubber-stamped projects
Texas has suspended 17 data center construction permits and shut down the automated portal used to approve them
Texas has halted the construction permits for 17 data center projects and disabled a web portal that automatically processed applications. The decision came after watchdog groups raised concerns about the issuance of permits a month after calls for a pause. Governor Greg Abbott requested the suspension in September 2026, but reports revealed over two dozen permits had already been issued.
The automated portal, STEERS, which rubber-stamped approvals, is now inaccessible. Despite Governor Abbott's call for no new permits, it appears the portal was not taken offline. Sam Law, a researcher at FracTracker, noted that the portal continued approving projects, including those for OpenAI and Amazon. All suspended permits relate to stormwater construction, a crucial part of the Texas approval process for all construction projects.
Governor Abbot's move aims to protect Texans' safety and quality of life, particularly regarding power use, water consumption, and community impact. This situation mirrors New York's year-long ban on data center projects larger than 50 megawatts, which went into effect earlier this year.
Written by urgent.news from Tom's Hardware's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
