Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is stepping up scrutiny of data center developments across the state, including projects in the Houston area, over concerns about water use and compliance with Texas law.
Paxton announced that his office sent letters to 156 data center developments requiring them to provide accurate, up-to-date information about their water usage.
The letters are part of a broader investigation into hundreds of data center developments across Texas, including facilities that have not responded to a water-use survey from the Texas Water Development Board.
Harris, Montgomery and Waller counties are among the 32 counties where developments received letters, according to Paxton’s office.
Data centers support the computing and storage needs of digital services, including artificial intelligence. Their rapid expansion has drawn attention to the resources needed to operate them, including electricity and water.
“Data center developers must follow the law and respect the Texans and communities affected by their operations,” Paxton said. “I am actively investigating data centers across Texas to make sure that Texans and our natural resources are protected.”
Paxton said his office is working to ensure data center companies comply with state law and that their operations do not place unlawful burdens on taxpayers or threaten critical resources.
The announcement did not identify individual developments that received letters in the Houston area or specify whether any companies had violated the law.
The investigation is ongoing.
