Texas Governor Halts 1,800 AI Data Center Projects

Texas Governor Greg Abbott said residents' criticism of AI data centers is justified, as these facilities face growing opposition across the U.S. A Gallup poll found 70% of Americans oppose having AI data centers nearby, with 48% strongly opposed.

Abbott, once a strong supporter of these projects, changed course after pushback from towns like Abilene. He has introduced new rules to protect residents from infrastructure costs and proposed banning data centers in rural areas.

Earlier this month, his administration halted about 1,800 AI data center projects. Abbott stressed that developers must win local support before moving forward, highlighting the challenge of balancing AI growth with community needs.