Post: Governor Abbott directs data center audit

Governor Abbott directs data center audit

Governor Greg Abbott has directed the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) and the grid operator (ERCOT) to conduct a comprehensive verification and audit of all data centers advancing through interconnection process.

ERCOT is currently considering approximately over 474GW of requests to connect to the Texas grid, more than five times the record peak electricity demand for ERCOT. Approximately 90% of the new power requests are data centers.

In a letter, published on August 3, Abbott said that PUCT and ERCOT must conduct a comprehensive verification and audit of all data centers advancing through the interconnection process. Any project that fails to comply with the requirements will be denied connection to the Texas grid. Building on the June 10 directive, Governor Abbott also directed the PUCT and ERCOT to obtain the following information from each data center project:

• information detailing the extent to which data centers are paying their own way or depending on the state for financial assistance. That would include all state and local tax incentives, grants, abatements, or other public financial assistance received or expected to be received.
• the extent to which data centers are providing their own power or depending on the ERCOT grid for that power. Details should include projected annual and peak electricity consumption; and any effort and progress to construct or procure on-site electric generation including generation type, or other measures to reduce demand on the ERCOT grid.
• the extent to which data centers are bringing their own water and reusing their own water as opposed to using water needed by local communities. The details should include projected annual and peak water consumption and anticipated sources of water supply. You must also obtain information about the cooling technology that will be utilized, including whether the facility will employ air-cooled, closed-loop, or another water-efficient cooling system.
• the extent to which data centers are using measures to reduce impacts on neighboring property owners and communities, including noise mitigation, light controls, setbacks, traffic improvements, emergency response coordination, and other community protection measures, understanding that each community is unique.
• information detailing the ownership and controlling interests in the project.

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