More than 150 data center developments across Texas have been ordered to provide accurate information about their water usage as part of an ongoing investigation into compliance with state law.
Attorney General Ken Paxton announced that his office has sent letters to 156 data center developments, marking the latest step in an investigation launched last month targeting hundreds of projects, including those that failed to respond to the Texas Water Development Board’s water-use survey.
According to the attorney general’s office, the letters notify developers that they must provide up-to-date and accurate information about their water usage.
“Data center developers must follow the law and respect the Texans and communities affected by their operations,” said Paxton. “I am actively investigating data centers across Texas to make sure that Texans and our natural resources are protected.”
The letters were sent to developments in 30 counties, including Harris, Dallas, Tarrant, Travis, Bexar, Collin, Denton, Montgomery, and Williamson.
The latest action follows a series of enforcement measures initiated by Gov. Greg Abbott last month amid concerns about the rapidly expanding industry’s demands on the state’s water and energy resources.
Abbott previously directed the Texas Water Development Board to enforce water-use reporting requirements against data centers that had failed to comply with state law.
Sources indicated at the time that roughly 80 percent of data centers required to submit information about their water usage had failed to respond to the state’s survey.
Under Texas law, TWDB conducts surveys of entities using groundwater and surface water for municipal, industrial, power generation, and mining purposes.
Abbott directed the agency to pursue legal consequences for noncompliance, including referring potential violations to county or district attorneys and notifying state environmental regulators about possible permit disqualifications.
The governor also ordered the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to halt permits for data center projects pending completion of an ongoing state audit.
Paxton subsequently announced his office was investigating hundreds of developments to determine whether they were complying with state reporting requirements.
The attorney general’s office says its investigation remains ongoing as data center development continues to expand across Texas.
