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A Bastrop-based group is pressing for more transparency from Edge-ConneX after the data center company committed to comply with state standards set by Gov. Greg Abbott earlier this summer.
Abbott announced Aug. 11 EdgeConneX would follow guidelines intended to protect the Texas power grid, conserve water and limit impacts on neighboring communities. The announcement directed the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas to review data center projects before they can move forward, including scrutiny of taxpayer-funded incentives, grants and abatements tied to each project.
“(Data centers) must not pass costs on to Texas families or interfere with their quality of life,” Abbott said in a statement.
The announcement drew a cautious response from the League of Independent Voters, a grassroots nonpartisan group, saying the commitment has not slowed visible activity in Bastrop County.
“It appears that Edge-ConneX, after they got on board with the governor, is in full swing on additional data centers in western Bastrop County,” co-founder Linda Curtis said. “If there is a pause, it doesn’t appear to apply to them.”
Curtis said the group wants EdgeConneX to publicly disclose more information about its projects, particularly surrounding safety and electrical demand concerns.
“EdgeConneX needs to come forward with a fully transparent accounting of the fire dangers, and what they’re doing about it in open court,” Curtis said.
EdgeConneX has three separate campus projects at different stages of development near Wolf Lane and FM 535 in Cedar Creek.
Campus 1 is currently under construction and carries a 10-year, 75% property tax abatement approved by the county in December 2024. campuses 2 and 3 remain in early development, and no abatement applications have been received for either, county officials said.
According to the governor’s office, officials will also review taxpayer- funded incentives, grants, abatements and other public financial assistance tied to data center projects.
“The PUCT and ERCOT cannot make decisions to guarantee grid stability and reliability based on substantially incomplete information,” Abbott said.
Abbott noted companies that fail to comply with the ERCOT audit process could have their projects denied.
