Key Facts

• Hinojosa campaigned on an immediate moratorium on new data-center permits until the Texas Legislature passes new protections.
• Her proposed requirements include skilled, licensed union labor, no nondisclosure agreements, and proof that data centers will not raise household electricity or water costs.
• Hinojosa also proposed ending subsidies for data-center companies and making some water contracts unenforceable if they threaten community supplies.
• In September, Governor Greg Abbott directed the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to stop issuing new data-center permits while agencies gathered information and conducted audits related to the power grid and water.
• The article says Texas has more operating data centers than any state except Virginia, and that about one-quarter of planned U.S. AI infrastructure is expected to be built in Texas.
• The Information reported that SpaceXAI had explored Texas sites for a large data center and considered converting warehouses for data-center use.
• The article reports that Abbott announced an agreement for SpaceX to spend $16.8 billion on a semiconductor fabrication plant; the provided text ends before giving further details.