AUSTIN, Texas (KTRK) -- Gov. Greg Abbott's office announced on Monday that the governor directed the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to halt all data center permits.

In a release, the governor's office said he directed the commission to halt permits until the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) completes its audit of data centers.

According to the state officials, the audit is to ensure that the data centers' development "does not compromise the reliability of the Texas electric grid and does not put Texans' natural resources at risk." This announcement follows Abbott's previous announcement that he directed the Texas Water Development Board to penalize data centers that don't obey state water laws.