Texas regulators continued processing data center permits despite Abbott's pause order

Gov. Greg Abbott ordered a moratorium on new data center permits in Texas last month citing grid concerns, but a FracTracker analysis of public records found state regulators processed applications throughout the pause period.

First covered Oct 19, 2026 · 2:58 PM PT · 1 article · no longer in the live window

Texas regulators continued processing data center permits despite Abbott's pause order — Image via insideclimatenews.org

Coverage

22d Inside Climate News Texas Continued Permitting Data Centers After Abbott’s Pause, Report Finds — Regulators in Texas did not stop processing permits for data center projects when Gov. Greg Abbott ordered a pause last month, according to an analysis of…

Primary sources

gov.texas.gov Tceq Data Center (gov.texas.gov)

www14.tceq.texas.gov Search TCEQ Data - Texas Commission on Environmental Quality - www.tceq.texas.gov

www2.tceq.texas.gov TCEQ - Water Quality General Permit Summary

More coverage from around the web

nbcdfw.com Texas data center permits paused as Abbott orders audits

dallasnews.com Greg Abbott halts data center permitting in Texas

statesman.com Texas orders pause on environmental permits for data center developments

legal500.com Governor Abbott Orders TCEQ To Pause All Permit Issuance For Data Center Projects

texastribune.org Texas pauses environmental permit approval for data centers

Appeared in: 2026-10-20 (#3) · 2026-10-21 (#19)

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