Texas, previously known as the beating heart of AI development in the United States, is now facing a serious challenge in energy supply. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has ordered a temporary halt to connecting all new data centers to the state's power grid. This decision will remain in place until developers provide detailed information regarding the impact of their projects on grid stability and local communities.
In a statement, the governor requested the Public Utility Commission and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) to conduct a comprehensive inspection and audit of all data centers waiting to connect to the grid. Due to inexpensive land and abundant energy resources, Texas was on its way to becoming the world's largest data center market, but the explosive growth of artificial intelligence has caused authorities to reconsider their development policies.