"The longer that audit and verification take, the greater the risk that legal changes could derail Texas’s data center boom. If the process is particularly onerous, it could continue into the state legislature’s new session in 2027, and potentially as late as April. A delay into the new legislative session is significant, as it would create additional opportunities for the Texas legislature to change the existing SB6 framework to further restrict data center build-out. It could also allow the legislature to overhaul Ercot’s “Batch Zero” process, a new large-load interconnection process, approved in June, that allows the operator to assess projects in batches rather than individually. Ercot’s system could serve as a model for grid operators facing rapidly expanding data center queues"
Longer audit and verification timelines increase the risk that legal changes…
Brief
Texas's data center boom is at risk from prolonged audit and verification timelines that could extend into the state legislature’s 2027 session—potentially as late as April—opening chances to amend SB6 and further restrict build-out. Those delays could also prompt changes to ERCOT’s “Batch Zero” process (approved in June), which batches large‑load interconnection assessments and may serve as a model for other grid operators.
Why it matters
Longer audit and verification timelines increase the risk that legal changes could derail Texas’s data center boom.
Key details
- If the process is particularly onerous it could continue into the Texas Legislature’s 2027 session—potentially as late as April—creating opportunities to amend SB6 and further restrict data center build-out.
- Extended delays could enable overhaul of ERCOT’s “Batch Zero” process (approved in June), which batches large‑load interconnection assessments and could become a model for other grid operators facing expanding data center queues.