Energy
Abbott says data center companies “dug their own grave” with communities
PN Team • 2 months ago
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said data center companies "dug their own grave" by rushing into communities without securing local support, calling the resulting backlash deserved. Speaking on ABC's "This Week," Abbott noted fewer than 10% of data center companies have responded to a state request for information needed to project future power demand, part of why he paused new construction pending audits of projects seeking grid connections.
The comments mark a reversal from Abbott, who last November touted Texas as the "epicenter of AI development" alongside a $40 billion Google-linked investment. In June he ordered data centers to cover the full cost of required electrical infrastructure and moved to phase out tax incentives. He joins other governors recalibrating: Pennsylvania's Josh Shapiro imposed new restrictions after previously championing a $20 billion Amazon investment, and New York's Kathy Hochul enacted a one-year moratorium on hyperscale facilities. National Republicans have privately warned that public anger over data centers threatens the party's midterm prospects, including in competitive Ohio races. President Trump has criticized Abbott's shift, calling opposition to data centers a mistake.
Sources:
Sentiment
- Greg Abbott Abbott is depicted reversing course and blaming data center companies, reflecting a politically awkward and somewhat critical portrayal despite framing it as accountability.
- Donald Trump Trump is shown criticizing Abbott's policy reversal, casting him as out of step with growing public concern over data centers.
- Republican Party (United States) Republicans are portrayed as privately worried that data center backlash could hurt midterm prospects, a mildly negative political framing.
- Josh Shapiro Shapiro is mentioned neutrally as another governor adjusting policy after previously supporting a major investment.
- Kathy Hochul Hochul is referenced neutrally for enacting a moratorium on hyperscale facilities, part of a broader trend.
- Texas Texas is central to the story as the site of Abbott's reversal and data center controversy, a mildly negative context.
- New York (state) New York is mentioned only as the location of Hochul's moratorium, a neutral factual reference.
- Pennsylvania Pennsylvania is mentioned only as the site of Shapiro's policy actions, a neutral factual reference.