Attor­ney Gen­er­al Pax­ton Launch­es Land­mark Inves­ti­ga­tion into Hun­dreds of Data Cen­ter Devel­op­ments in Texas to Ensure Com­pli­ance with Water Use Report­ing Requirements

Attorney General Ken Paxton is investigating Texas data center developments that have not provided a response to the Texas Water Development Board’s (“TWDB”) water use survey. Under Attorney General Paxton’s orders, the OAG will ensure that all data center developments in Texas provide up-to-date and accurate information regarding water usage. 

Under Texas law, TWDB is required to conduct surveys of entities that use ground water and surface water for municipal, industrial, power generation, or mining purposes. Attorney General Paxton is demanding that all data centers in Texas meet this requirement by submitting a survey response in full compliance with the law. The OAG has launched an ongoing investigation into all data center developments in Texas, and Attorney General Paxton is committed to ensuring Texas communities and water are protected.  

“My office is currently investigating hundreds of data center developments to ensure that they are transparent about their water usage and fully compliant with the law,” said Attorney General Paxton. “It is our responsibility to steward our state’s land well, and we cannot do that if companies are blatantly disregarding their legal obligations to Texas and to our citizens. We cannot sacrifice our resources, water, or energy supply, and I will continue to fight for our communities across this state.”  

Data centers are under initial investigation in counties across Texas, including Harris, Montgomery, Travis, Dallas, Tarrant, Smith, Bexar, Tom Green, Potter, Randall, Lubbock, Midland, Ector, Wichita, Victoria, Brazos, Nueces, and El Paso.