Texas Gov.-Elect Gina Hinojosa Says Approved Data Centers Can Finish

Texas Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa said data centers already approved to build can finish construction, while newly approved projects would face conditions on taxes, electricity rates, water and construction labor.

Hinojosa said Nov. 6 that existing approvals cover essentially all of the state’s data-center projects for 2027, with approvals likely to continue into 2028.

She said she would use legislation to require newly approved facilities to pay taxes, pledge not to raise consumer electricity rates, preserve residents’ access to water and use union labor during construction.

The position adds conditions to Hinojosa’s earlier pledge to pause new data-center approvals, which has not taken effect. Projects with existing approvals would be allowed to proceed while future approvals would face the proposed requirements.