FORT WORTH, Texas — Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller is once again calling for Gov. Greg Abbott to convene a legislative session to address the dangers of data centers.

In a statement released Friday, Miller said Abbott has heard “every one of those warnings and still not acted.”

He is asking Abbott to call a special legislative session to talk about the “unchecked expansion of massive data centers” that he says will threaten Texas Agriculture, rural communities and Texas’s electric grid.

Miller criticized Abbott for pointing to the withdrawal of a proposed East Texas data center as evidence his policies are working.

“Governor Abbott wants a victory lap because one project walked away after failing to meet standards he announced only after Texans across the state demanded action,” Miller said.

Earlier this summer Abbott said data centers are not welcome in rural neighborhoods.

He also sent a letter in June that ordered state regulators to shield Texans from the electricity costs related to data centers. He also said data centers must be built with water efficient technologies and large ones must report annual water and electricity use to the Public Utility Commission of Texas.

Miller added that one withdrawn project does not erase the hundreds of data centers planned or already in Texas.

“It doesn’t bring back the farmland that’s already been lost, reduce the pressure on our electric grid, or replenish the water supplies these facilities threaten,” Miller said.

He said the governor calls special legislative sessions when he thinks topics are urgent, and the fact that he hasn’t called one regarding data centers shows he doesn’t take the consequences of them seriously.

Miller said that data centers use millions of gallons of water every day to keep their servers cool.

“Texas can build more power plants and transmission lines, but we can’t manufacture water. Water is the lifeblood of Texas agriculture, and once it’s gone, it’s gone,” he said.

Miller said he wants Texas to remain the nation’s economic leader, but he criticizes Texas leaders who allow “billion-dollar technology” companies to get “preferential treatment” while rural Texans face the consequences.

Miller said Abbott has the power to bring lawmakers to Austin immediately to address this topic, but he has failed to do so.

“The warning signs have been flashing for months from all corners of our state: rural communities, landowners, and electric consumers,” Miller continued. “Governor Abbott has heard every one of those warnings and still hasn’t acted. I’m not opposed to technology, I’m opposed to government picking winners and losers. Right now, state policy favors global tech companies over Texas farmers and ranchers. That’s unacceptable,” Miller said.

Abbott’s Press Secretary Andrew Mahaleris said the governor has been clear that data centers cannot come before Texas families. He told the Star-Telegram that’s why the governor directed the PUC and ERCOT to require data centers to pay for their own infrastructure, bring their own power, reuse their own water, and lower residential electric bills.

“These steps protect Texans from higher costs and negative impacts on their communities. Gov. Abbott will continue to work with the Legislature to protect Texans and ensure their voices are heard,” Mahaleris said.

______

©2026 Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Visit star-telegram.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.