Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton released a plan to address Texans’ concerns over data centers ahead of November’s Senate race against Democratic nominee James Talarico.

“My Texas First Data Center Plan will protect our grid, our communities, and our children while ensuring America beats Communist China in the AI race. Texas First. Always,” Paxton said.

“Paxton’s Texas First Data Center Plan outlines ambitious, innovative proposals at the federal level and a promise to fiercely advocate for Governor Greg Abbott’s state-level plan,” a release read.

Read the four-point plan below:

A closer look:

Fox News shared further:

His plan comes after Talarico, who has used the issue of data centers as a political cudgel against Paxton, convened bipartisan roundtables and hit the Republican nominee for taking in nearly $500,000 in campaign donations to a variety of political action committees (PACs) that support him.

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“Ken Paxton took nearly half a million dollars from data center companies and has ignored Texans in Hood County who asked him to help block a data center development in their community,” Talarico campaign spokesperson JT Ennis told Fox News Digital.

“While Ken Paxton funnels data center money into his campaign, James is fighting to hold data centers accountable. Texans can’t afford a Senator who’s bought by big data center companies,” he continued. “Texans can’t afford Ken Paxton’s corruption.”

He’s also not scot-free from receiving data center-adjacent money, either.

Talarico’s political operation, through his Lone Star Rising PAC, has received about $10 million from LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, an advocate for data centers who has argued about the value that they present in the AI arms race against China.

“Texans deserve a fighter to lead and represent them as we address the growing presence of data centers in Texas and stop their negative impact on our neighborhoods,” Paxton said.

“While James Talarico and his campaign infrastructure accept millions of dollars from data center-affiliated donors and put their interests first, I will lead with Texans at the forefront. That’s exactly why I am proud to release my 4-Point Plan that will put Texans First and protect our communities,” he continued.

Houston Public Media has more:

Hood County has dealt with months-long tension over proposed data centers, with residents raising concerns about water consumption, wastewater treatment, traffic, property values, noise and potential impacts to the county’s rural character. The county approved the concept plan for the Comanche Circle data center development in June.

In nearby Somervell County, commissioners unanimously approved a resolution in May opposing new data centers and a letter calling on lawmakers to increase regulation. Gov. Greg Abbott issued a directive last week announcing that no new data centers could connect to the Texas power grid until state regulators conducted a thorough review of their energy and water usage, as well as their impact on nearby communities.

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Paxton’s campaign donations from the data center industry aren’t surprising, said Brian Crawford, whose property is near the Comanche Circle project that was recently approved in Hood County.

“I assume that that goes hand-in-hand with that lack of response or really any response relative to data centers,” Crawford said.

Black Mountain Energy Storage, whose vice president of land donated $17,000 to PACs associated with Paxton’s campaign in May according to FEC filings, is building another data center in Fort Worth near Crawford’s home.

Paxton told Valuetainment, a business podcast, in May the issue of AI data centers is complicated. He said the U.S. needs to outpace China in AI, but he understands why there’s pushback.

“I have a lot of sensitivity for local communities that don’t want things built next to their neighborhoods,” Paxton said. “I think there needs to be some balance.”

He said the decision should be made by local officials with input from state leaders if needed.

 

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