June 24, 2026, 2:47 p.m. ET
As the debate over data centers in Texas continues, new polling shows that Texans aren’t on board with them or their construction in their communities.
A poll from the University of Texas and the Texas Politics Project on Monday, June 22, shows that 56% of the 1,200 Texan voters polled are opposed to the construction of data centers in their communities, with 42% strongly opposed.
The poll comes after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott sent a letter in early June to the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) directing the state regulators to do the following:
- Require data centers to fully fund the costs of electric infrastructure needed to serve their operations.
- Ensure data center interconnections that will reduce residential electricity bills.
- Review their existing authorities and to identify necessary actions that can be taken under those authorities.
- Both must submit their review in a joint memorandum to the Office of the Governor by Friday, July 17.
The letter also noted that the PUC will initiate action to reduce residential ratepayer transmission costs by Friday, July 31.
Texas residents have also been critical of the rapid expansion of data centers across the state and of their impact on the state’s power grid — overseen by ERCOT — and its water supply. Some cities have even tried to halt their construction.
How Texas voters view data centers by age
Age plays a role when breaking down the poll’s numbers for who supports and opposes building data centers in communities.
Among 18- to 29-year-olds, 39% support building a data center, while 24% oppose it. Support remains positive among voters aged 30-44, but narrows, with 33% in support and 28% in opposition.
However, views flip among voters aged 45-64, with 24% supporting data centers and 32% opposing them. Those 65 and older are the most resistant: Only 20% support local data center construction, while 33% oppose it.
When it comes to how people think AI will affect the economy, nearly half of Texas voters, 49%, expect AI to negatively impact the economy, compared with 29% who anticipate a positive effect. Another 5% expect no impact, while 17% have no opinion.
Looking along party lines, Republicans are closely divided on AI, as 38% expect a positive impact on the economy and 40% expecting a negative impact. Democrats are more consolidated but still split: 61% expect AI to negatively impact the economy, while 21% expect a positive impact.
Independents are on the fence between Democrats and Republicans, with 15% expecting a positive impact and 47% anticipating negative consequences.
Texas’s plan to regulate data centers in 2027
In his letter to the state regulator, Abbott also indicated that he would work with the 90th Texas Legislature, which convenes in January 2027, to do the following:
- Codify the PUC’s actions to require data centers to pay for their own electric infrastructure costs.
- Ensure data centers add to Texas’s electric capacity — not just its electric demand.
- Require that all new data centers be built with water-efficient technologies such as closed-loop cooling systems.
- Require large data centers to annually report electricity and water usage data to the PUC.
- Repeal sales tax exemptions and other outdated or unnecessary incentives for data centers.
- Require data centers to reduce impacts on local communities by implementing best practices such as setbacks, noise-reduction technology and other measures.
Mateo Rosiles is the Texas Connect reporter for USA TODAY and its regional papers in Texas. Got a news tip for him? Email him at mrosiles@usatodayco.com.
