Industry expanding across the state AUSTIN - Gov. Greg Abbott this week called for a ban on building new data centers in rural areas and additional regulations during a campaign stop in East Texas.

"We must prohibit them from building (artificial intelligence) data centers in rural Texas neighborhoods. (Data centers) dovetail right into fighting for East Texas values," Abbott said, according to a statement released by the governor's office.

Opposition to the facilities is growing because they require large amounts of electricity and water and can be noisy.