Texas governor orders audit of new data centers after realizing over 400 gigawatts of power is a lot

The state already hosts more than 500 data centers. Tim Warner/Getty Images Governor Greg Abbott has ordered that Texas utility commissions must conduct a review of any proposed new data centers in the state. In response to the order, the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) must collect information about potential new data centers' ownership and finances as well as their planned power needs, water use and approach to minimizing the negative impact on residents. According to third-party statistics, Texas is home to 521 data centers. That's currently the second-most in the country, behind only Virginia. On top of the existing power demands of those centers, ERCOT is currently reviewing more than 474 gigawatts in requests to connect