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- calendar_today October 20, 2026
Growth of Texas Data Centers Raises Air Quality Concerns
The rapidly expanding data center industry in Texas is bringing renewed concerns over the state’s air quality. According to a new report from the Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC), the surge in data centers could potentially reverse much of Texas's progress in curbing air pollution by the end of this decade—especially if energy needs are met with natural gas power rather than renewable sources.
Emissions Tied to Energy Choices for Data Centers
The HARC report released Tuesday highlights that the impact of data center emissions on air quality depends considerably on how these facilities source their power. Should data centers rely on on-site natural gas generation, the outcome could be a sharp uptick in pollution levels, undermining years of improvements. Conversely, integrating more renewable energy and cleaner technologies could limit emissions growth but not eliminate it entirely, due to the sheer demand for energy from planned projects.
Texas's Progress at Risk
Between 2002 and 2024, Texas succeeded in slashing major airborne pollutants from industry, transportation, and power generation, all while its population and economy grew significantly. The HARC study, referencing federal and state data, warns that these advances could be wiped out if data centers are primarily powered by fossil fuels. Projecting out to 2031, the report indicates that nitrogen oxide emissions could climb 35% in a best-case, renewables-driven scenario—and nearly 400% if natural gas dominates.
Data Center Power Demand and Its Sources
Data centers require vast amounts of electricity to maintain operations and run advanced cooling systems. With more than 288 projects planned statewide, estimates suggest that their collective energy needs might demand up to 439 gigawatts from the grid—close to a third of total U.S. power generation. Because connecting large facilities to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) grid is slow, many developers opt for on-site power generation, typically via natural gas engines due to cost and speed. These engines emit roughly four times as much nitrogen oxides as grid power for similar data centers.
Natural Gas Power vs. Renewable Energy
The report analyzed four scenarios for meeting data centers’ energy needs, varying from full reliance on grid power (which increasingly integrates renewables) to on-site natural gas generation. Reliance on natural gas could see nitrogen oxide emissions return to, or even surpass, levels not observed since the early 2000s. Higher emissions of volatile organic compounds and particulate matter—the latter considered particularly harmful to human health—were also projected. Cleaner technologies, while preferable, come with reliability and cost challenges, and often cannot supply uninterrupted power at the necessary scale.
Policy Actions and Future Considerations
Governor Greg Abbott has enacted a temporary halt on new data centers connecting to the Texas grid while state officials examine the potential impacts of their power, water, and cooling demands. HARC’s vice president for energy, air, and IT, Carlos Gamarra, stresses the urgency of treating data centers as industrial facilities subject to robust emissions regulation: “Otherwise this could have strong implications for the population and environment.” Gamarra asserts that the opportunity remains for lawmakers and industry to adopt cleaner solutions and strengthen regulation to avoid undoing decades of progress on air quality.
Community and Industry Responses
HARC researchers encourage greater transparency from data center operators regarding their energy sources and pollution levels. Policymakers and communities, they argue, should have access to these details when considering new developments. With major metropolitan centers such as Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio, and Austin already struggling to meet federal air pollution standards, experts warn that the mounting energy demand from data centers could further exacerbate public health impacts if not carefully managed.
Source: mysanantonio.com.
