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The first group of large data centers waiting to get connected to Texas’ grid won’t move forward in the process until mid-December, grid officials say.
Electric Reliability Council of Texas staff needs to weigh the first 300 projects, 90 percent of which are data centers, in “Batch Zero,” and put together a community impact review as directed by Gov. Greg Abbott last month. Any data centers that don’t respond or don’t pass the verification process will be disqualified from Batch Zero, which was created earlier this year to refine how ERCOT studies the 1,800 projects now waiting for grid connection.
The same day Abbott announced plans to audit prospective data centers, ERCOT said it would pause its Batch Zero study process and work with the Public Utility Commission of Texas to carry out the governor’s request. The grid operator later said no large data centers would be approved to come online in Texas until after the November midterm elections.
Texas state leaders, like Abbott, have switched from courting data centers to implementing new guidelines on the industry months later as the expansive rollout has heavily impacted the grid and rural communities. Constituents and politicians alike have said the issue will influence voter turnout.
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