Hundreds of Texas data center developments are under investigation for potentially failing to comply with state water-use reporting requirements.
Attorney General Ken Paxton’s investigation targets data center developments that have not responded to the Texas Water Development Board’s water-use survey.
Under Texas law, TWDB conducts surveys of entities using groundwater and surface water for municipal, industrial, power generation, and mining purposes. Paxton is demanding that data centers submit the required information and says his office has launched an ongoing investigation into data center developments across the state.
“My office is currently investigating hundreds of data center developments to ensure that they are transparent about their water usage and fully compliant with the law,” said Paxton.
“We cannot sacrifice our resources, water, or energy supply, and I will continue to fight for our communities across this state,” he added.
The investigation follows Gov. Greg Abbott’s directive last week ordering TWDB to enforce water-use reporting requirements against data centers that have failed to comply.
Sources previously indicated that roughly 80 percent of data centers required to provide information about their water usage had failed to respond.
Abbott directed TWDB to impose legal consequences for noncompliance, including referring potential violations to county or district attorneys and notifying state environmental regulators about possible permit disqualifications.
Earlier this week, Abbott also ordered the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to halt permits for data center projects until an ongoing state audit is completed.
Paxton’s office says its initial investigation includes data centers in Harris, Montgomery, Travis, Dallas, Tarrant, Smith, Bexar, Tom Green, Potter, Randall, Lubbock, Midland, Ector, Wichita, Victoria, Brazos, Nueces, and El Paso counties.
