Paul Cobler

The move is the latest in a series of escalating efforts by the governor to slow data center development in Texas ahead of November’s election.

On the campaign trail, the governor said dismantling city-owned utilities will save customers money by introducing competition.

Energy regulators and industry experts warn that the state's delays to major projects amid backlash from residents could create rolling blackouts and strangle growth of other industries that need power.

The state's power grid operator had already planned on auditing several data center proposals, but Abbott's directive reworks the timeline and adds new requirements.

As artificial intelligence pushes demand for more data centers, companies are drawn to the state’s relatively inexpensive land and natural gas that can run on-site power plants.