Data Centers Are Quietly Taking Over Texas. The Pollution Could Be Catastrophic

In the heart of Texas, where oil and gas have long dominated the landscape, a new industry is rising: data centers fueled by fossil fuels. OpenAI’s Stargate project in Abilene has become a poster child for this trend, with its massive power plant looming over nearby homes.

Omaira Garcia’s story is all too familiar. The Air Force veteran was caught off guard when construction on Stargate began next door to her property, with no warning or notification. Her home is now surrounded by the visible exhaust stacks of a gas plant that could emit up to 1.6 million tons of greenhouse gases every year. “We weren’t given any time to understand what this impact was going to be on us,” she says through tears. “We’re trapped here.”

The data center boom in Texas is not just about OpenAI’s flagship project, but also a result of the state’s industry-friendly policies. Governor Greg Abbott has hailed AI development as the state’s “gold rush,” and President Trump’s push for faster AI growth has encouraged companies to flock to Texas. However, beneath this enthusiasm lies a disturbing reality: regulatory loopholes are allowing data centers to avoid environmental reviews, public notice, and even nondisclosure agreements with local governments and residents.

The use of minor air permits has enabled data centers like Stargate to sidestep major environmental scrutiny. These permits are typically reserved for low-level polluters like dry cleaners and are granted very quickly, often without the public’s knowledge. Kathryn Guerra, a former staffer at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), notes that this lack of transparency is not just a matter of oversight; it’s a deliberate strategy by developers to avoid accountability.

At least 15 gas plants tied to data centers are planned for Texas, with nine potentially emitting over 130 million tons of greenhouse gases every year – equivalent to the annual emissions of 35 coal-fired power plants. While actual emissions may be lower than estimates, the impact on the climate could still be enormous.

The data center industry’s reliance on fossil fuels is not just a short-term problem; it’s a long-term threat to the state’s economy and environment. As Jenny Martos, a researcher at Global Energy Monitor, warns, this trend risks “locking in fossil fuel for the foreseeable future.” With over 80 gigawatts of new gas plants in the construction pipeline, Texas is poised to become one of the world’s largest emitters of greenhouse gases.

The story of Stargate and OpenAI’s involvement raises more questions than answers. The company’s decision to build a massive power plant that could fuel an entire city – despite starting out smaller on paper – highlights the lack of accountability in the data center industry. Bruce Buckheit, a former EPA air enforcement chief, notes that state agencies typically use permit-by-rule processes for small projects like gas stations or dry cleaners. But Stargate is no ordinary project.

As Texas’s data center boom continues to grow, so does its carbon footprint. The state’s residents are left wondering if their homes and environment will be sacrificed in the name of progress. The story of Omaira Garcia and her family serves as a stark reminder: when regulatory loopholes allow polluters to operate with impunity, it’s not just the environment that suffers – it’s the people living next door.

The data center boom in Texas has significant implications for the state’s residents. If left unchecked, its pollution could be catastrophic. The state’s residents deserve better than to live next to facilities emitting millions of tons of greenhouse gases every year. It’s time for Governor Abbott and President Trump to take a closer look at the regulations governing the industry – and for Texans to demand more from their leaders.