Hill County, which appears to be the first Texas county to pass a moratorium, replaced it Thursday with a checklist of requirements for developers.
Energy
In-depth reporting on oil, gas, renewable power, and policies shaping the future of energy in Texas from The Texas Tribune.
Posted in
Data Centers in Texas
Eight data centers threaten to transform this small Texas county. Local officials say they have no power to stop them.
At least 248 data centers are planned to be built in Texas. Of those, nearly half will be built in unincorporated areas, where county officials are limited in their ability to regulate development, according to a Texas Tribune analysis.
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Economy
A Texas town hopes a new data center will pay to fix its cracked streets and leaking pipes
Lacy Lakeview, a Waco suburb, said it is considering a data center project in efforts to boost their spending power to repair aging roads.
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2026 Texas Elections
Bo French defeats Railroad Commissioner Jim Wright in GOP primary runoff
Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dustin Burrows all supported French’s opponent.
Posted in
2026 Texas Elections
Texas’ raucous primary runoffs end today. Here’s what to watch.
John Cornyn is trying to fend off Ken Paxton. Both parties are picking attorney general nominees. And an oil and gas regulatory race has become uncharacteristically costly.
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Energy
In the Permian Basin, AI takes on big oil’s dirty water problem
Facing limited options, oil industry turns to AI to handle wastewater from oil production. Producers discovered other uses to streamline the process.
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Politics
Election for oil regulator becomes battleground for wealthy donors
In the GOP runoff for Texas Railroad commissioner, billionaires, big oil companies and trade groups flood the campaign pockets of candidates Jim Wright and Bo French.
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Energy
Defense Department delays 54 wind projects in Texas, citing national security concerns
After years of trying to stop offshore wind projects, the Trump administration is now pausing routine federal permits for 165 land-based projects, including dozens in Texas.
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Economy
A Texas town needs Waco’s help to realize its data center dreams. It’s not going well.
Lacy Lakeview’s hasty approach to the data center project has alienated the Waco officials who would control water service to the site. “Without the City of Waco agreeing to it, Lacy Lakeview can’t do anything out there and neither can Infrakey,” State Rep. Pat Curry said. “Those guys don’t know what the hell they’re doing.”
Posted in
2026 Texas Elections
With Trump and Talarico aligned on a gas tax holiday, Cornyn gets on board
James Talarico, the Democratic U.S. Senate nominee, has pushed to suspend the federal gas tax amid soaring fuel costs. Cornyn previously opposed the idea.
