Texas Lawmakers Debate Transmission Lines and Data Center Regulations Amid Public Backlash
Texas legislators convened for a nine-hour hearing to address growing public and political opposition to the construction of 765-kilovolt transmission lines and the proliferation of data centers across the state. The House Committee on State Affairs heard recommendations from various stakeholders, including local officials advocating for increased local control over data center proposals and a longer timeframe for reforming the transmission line approval process. Activist groups, symbolized by the color yellow, protested outside the Capitol, arguing that data centers' energy demands are directly linked to the need for new transmission lines. This bipartisan coalition, comprising Republican legislators, Democratic statewide candidates, rural landowners, and environmentalists, has gained traction, leading to recent actions by state officials. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and committee chair Charles Schwertner called for the Public Utility Commission to scrap the 765 kV project, while Governor Greg Abbott ... 
