Texas freezes data center grid hookups; governor-elect Hinojosa vows ban until new rules pass
tengyanAI · x · 2026-11-05
Texas froze new data center grid hookups in August, and the midterm result likely extends the freeze.
- ERCOT's interconnection queue now holds 474GW, about 90% of it data centers.
- ERCOT paused new hookups and delayed its first major study batch amid an audit due Dec 10.
- Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa (takes office Jan 19) has promised a ban on all data center approvals until lawmakers pass new rules.
- Most new Texas projects around 2028 are likely to be delayed, shifting some demand to other states.
Most exposed pending projects: IREN's 2GW Sweetwater hub (300MW targeted for Q4 2027), Cipher's 1GW Colchis site (2028) plus sites under study, and Hut 8 & CleanSpark's 1GW Beacon Point plus Sealy and Brazoria sites.
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