Gov. Greg Abbott Monday directed the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to halt all permits sought by data centers until the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) completes its audit.

Because the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT), ERCOT, and the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) require that information to make informed decisions, no state agency shall move forward with regulatory approvals related to data center development until it is acquired.

"Simply put, Texans must come first." - Gov. Greg Abbott "Simply put, Texans must come first," Abbott said.