Texas data center ERCOT grid moratorium

BNEF estimated Abbott's moratorium on new ERCOT grid connections puts 49.8 GW of Texas data center capacity at risk, nearly 20% of the US pipeline, with revenue exposure up to $15 billion, while ERCOT acknowledged missing the August 7 deadline to classify large loads and said it will seek a good cause exception at the PUCT's August 20 open meeting.

Gallup polling put opposition to local data center construction at roughly 70% of Americans, and Spotlight PA and Grist documented at least 75 projects worth about $130 billion stalled in Q1 2026.

Reporting from Wisconsin and Michigan finds ~70% of residents oppose nearby data centers; over 100 moratorium proposals circulating nationally

Texas Governor Greg Abbott on August 7 imposed a moratorium on new ERCOT grid connections for data centers and directed the Public Utility Commission of Texas and ERCOT to conduct a 'comprehensive verification and audit' of all data centers in the interconnection process.

Developers must supply more information about grid and community impacts before connections are approved. Texas had been aggressively courting data center investment through cheap land, tax breaks, and lighter regulation, and was on track to displace Virginia as the largest US data center market.

Abbott's halt and audit mandate reported alongside broader public opposition rooted in distrust of corporate job and cost promises

Abbott imposed moratorium on new ERCOT data center grid connections and directed a comprehensive audit