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Texas Rolls Out $40B Google AI, Pauses Data Centers.

5/22/2026

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Abbott AI Partnership

Governor Greg Abbott championed a $40 billion partnership with Google to expand AI and data infrastructure in Texas.
Sid Miller and Congressman Pete Sessions are drafting federal Agriculture Freedom Zones legislation to steer data centers toward marginal land.
Hill County enacted a temporary ban on data-center construction as the state debate intensifies.
Sid Miller warned growth outpaced oversight, noting developers spent millions influencing politics before 2027.

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Miller drafts Freedom

The planned data center could consume over three million gallons of water daily, sparking intense local scrutiny.
Construction executive Michael Miller and Congressman Pete Sessions are drafting Freedom Zones legislation to steer data centers onto marginal land.
Local officials allege Sinton’s rezoned farmland is being prepared for a multi-billion-dollar data center.
Researchers project data-center water use rising from 120 million gallons in 2025 to 640 million by 2030.

History

Historical Context

When Google opened its $2.5 billion Oklahoma data center in 2010, Governor Brad Henry highlighted its 1.5 million-gallon-per-day water draw. Since 2022, more than two-thirds of new U.S. data centers have been sited in water-stressed regions, and U.S. facilities used about 17 billion gallons in 2024. The Texas-Google AI partnership under Governor Greg Abbott now faces similar water-resource scrutiny.

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Abbott AI Partnership

Governor Greg Abbott championed a $40 billion partnership with Google to expand AI and data infrastructure in Texas.
Sid Miller and Congressman Pete Sessions are drafting federal Agriculture Freedom Zones legislation to steer data centers toward marginal land.
Hill County enacted a temporary ban on data-center construction as the state debate intensifies.
Sid Miller warned growth outpaced oversight, noting developers spent millions influencing politics before 2027.

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