Data centers are no longer an emerging industry. Driven by cloud computing, crypto mining and artificial intelligence, they are spreading rapidly across Texas, and the projected cost of the tax break has climbed into the billions. On Monday, the state senate finance committee asked if it was time to end the sales tax break for data centers.

The citizen’s group Save Lubbock says it has enough signatures to put the call for a data center moratorium before the city council. The petition will now go to the city secretary’s office to verify signatures. Meanwhile, at the state capitol this week, The Texas Newsroom's Blaise Gainey reports Texas lawmakers began looking at a long-standing tax break for data centers. The Texas Comptroller's Office projects the tax break could total $3.3 billion in 2028 & 2029.